Can EU Sanctions Stop Russia's Sanctions Evasion? | DW News

The European Union has announced nearly 1,600 new sanctions listings targeting Russia's military-industrial complex, aiming to disrupt the supply chains behind Moscow's missiles and drones. The measures seek to weaken Russia's ability to wage war against Ukraine. However, the effectiveness of these sanctions remains uncertain, as Russia has consistently found ways to circumvent restrictions. Mykola Bielieskov, a research fellow at Ukraine's National Institute for Strategic Studies and senior analyst at Come Back Alive, examines Russia's dependence on foreign technology and the methods Moscow uses to evade sanctions. He discusses whether successive rounds of restrictions have meaningfully impacted Russia's military capabilities and what more can be done. The interview also explores the broader implications of sanctions evasion for global security and the challenges of enforcing export controls. Bielieskov argues that while sanctions have imposed costs on Russia, they have not yet crippled its war machine, and tougher measures may be needed.