5 oligarchs who finance 75% of russian explosives production

Five russian billionaires under Western sanctions own stakes in chemical companies that supply components for explosives production.

These firms are responsible for more than 75% of the key chemicals transported by rail to large explosives factories in russia from the beginning of the war until September of this year.

The new data once again shows that the Western strategy of imposing sanctions on russia has failed to curb its military production, the investigation says.

After all, despite the fact that russian billionaires are under Western sanctions, their companies have largely avoided significant financial sanctions or bans on imports of critical goods from the United States or the European Union.

The Kremlin is investing heavily in military production and is trying to replenish its ammunition stockpile. In 2024, russia produced about 2.4 million artillery shells and imported 3 million from North Korea.

Most of the output of these chemical plants is civilian products, such as fertilizers, which are critical for agriculture. Longstanding Western policy exempts food products from sanctions.

Source: Reuters