Postal Loopholes Allow Sanctioned Goods Through
An investigation by German newspaper Bild has revealed that Russia is using a Berlin-based logistics hub to bypass European Union sanctions. Packages containing banned goods were tracked moving through a logistics hall near Berlin Brandenburg Airport and sent onward via Poland and Belarus to Moscow without detection.
The shipments reportedly used Uzbekistan state postal labels, despite Germany not authorising that service. International mail faces lighter inspections than standard exports because it is processed in bulk under simplified customs procedures. The operation is believed to be run by Dimitri V., former head of RusPost GmbH, the German branch of Russia’s state postal service. German customs searched the company in August 2024, but no charges were filed.
Ukraine Calls for Stronger Sanctions Enforcement
Ukraine’s presidential envoy for sanctions policy, Vladyslav Vlasiuk, expressed little surprise at the findings and said European nations are not doing enough to close such loopholes. “Nobody is doing enough, if you look at the number of cases,” he told Euronews in Berlin.
Vlasiuk is touring Europe, including the Netherlands and Belgium, pushing for stricter enforcement. He outlined three priorities: tightening financial sanctions, blocking Western components from reaching Russia, and taking more decisive action against Russia’s shadow fleet. He highlighted that many of the over 50,000 Shahed drones launched by Russia contained Western components, and warned that alternative payment methods like cryptocurrencies make sanctions easier to evade.
Shadow Fleet Continues to Operate
Russia’s shadow fleet, used to transport oil and commodities despite sanctions, remains largely active. Many tankers are old, underinsured, and registered under flags of convenience, which provide minimal oversight and regulatory requirements. Despite EU sanctions on over 600 ships, about 70% continue to operate, according to Vlasiuk.
France recently seized the oil tanker Grinch in the western Mediterranean, citing suspicions it sailed under a false flag. On 26 January, Germany and 13 other EU states issued a joint warning that ships in the Baltic and North Sea sailing under multiple or false flags would be treated as stateless unless they carry valid documents, communicate with authorities, and comply with safety and maritime laws. The statement did not specify how enforcement or penalties would be applied.
