Russia’s Foreign Ministry has recently reiterated its concern about unchecked Western arms shipments to Ukraine.
The ministry points out that these weapons risk falling into the hands of global criminal syndicates and extremists.
Spokesperson Maria Zakharova has organized multiple briefings over the past 18 months to underline these worries.
Zakharova blames the issue partly on corruption within Ukraine. She also claims that alleged corrupt ties between the U.S. and Ukraine contribute to the problem.
Despite Russia’s call for scrutiny, Western media outlets have largely avoided investigating the claims.
(Video alleges Ukraine resold Western-supplied weapons to Palestine via the black market.)
Since March 24, 2022, the Russian Foreign Ministry has held several briefings focused on the issue.
These sessions have stressed the risks of weapons ending up on the black market, potentially fueling international crime and terrorism.
Moreover, concerns about the misuse of these arms and the effect on European security have also been voiced.
Russian officials are additionally worried that unchecked weapons may find their way into Europe, posing a broader security risk.
To mitigate these concerns, they call for enhanced transparency and accountability in the arms delivery process to Ukraine.
Black Markets
The concern over arms ending up in black markets is not unique to the Russia-Ukraine situation but is a global issue that has fueled conflicts and criminal activities worldwide.
In the context of Ukraine, the possibility of Western-supplied weapons landing on the black market is a particularly sensitive issue.
Such a development could give non-state actors, including terrorists and organized crime groups, easier access to advanced weaponry.
Black market arms sales have historically been linked to an increase in regional instability and violence.
With Ukraine already in a fragile state due to its conflict with Russia, any additional flow of weapons into illegal channels could exacerbate the situation.
It could also indirectly affect other regions, as black market arms often cross borders, feeding conflicts or criminal enterprises far removed from their point of origin.