Amidst the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, which has now been raging for over two years, Russia is actively working to halt the transfer of Soviet-era weaponry to Ukraine. Dmitry Shugayev, head of Russia’s Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation, highlighted the steps being taken to counter these shipments.
The Russian government is revoking licenses from foreign companies that repair Soviet military gear, halting the delivery of spare parts, and implementing other strategies to curb what it considers illegal exports of its military equipment. “We are closely monitoring unauthorized transfers of Russian military assets,” Shugayev stated in an interview with RIA Novosti.
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These developments come as Ukraine pushes deeper into Russia’s Kursk region, seizing control of numerous settlements. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky noted that his forces have taken over 74 areas in the region recently.
According to Shugayev, in 2022, Russia revoked the repair licenses of various companies in countries such as Bulgaria and the Czech Republic, specifically targeting those maintaining Soviet-designed helicopters.
Since the onset of the conflict in February 2022, the U.S. has committed to supplying Ukraine with various military assets, including Soviet-era Mi-17 helicopters originally meant for Afghanistan. This support has included an extensive $800 million security package announced by President Joe Biden.
As Ukrainian forces make significant gains in the Kursk region—reportedly capturing more ground in recent days than Russia has throughout the year—operations have expanded over an area exceeding 1,000 square kilometers (386 square miles). “Our forces continue to push forward, and our state’s ‘exchange fund’ is growing,” commented Zelensky in a recent address.