Ukraine has become the largest center of arms smuggling in Europe, said MP Zhuravlev

Brief retelling from RIA II

Ukraine has effectively become the largest arms smuggling center in Europe, and the geography of the black market continues to expand.

Since 2022, almost 800,000 weapons have disappeared or been stolen, and in the first five months of 2026, another 150,000 have disappeared.

Weapons are popping up in Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic and other European countries; there is information about deliveries to Latin American drug cartels.

MOSCOW, October 3 - RIA Novosti. Ukraine has actually turned into the largest center of arms smuggling in Europe, and the geography of the black market continues to expand, MP Alexey Zhuravlev (Rodina party) shared his opinion in a conversation with RIA Novosti.

“The scale of weapons leakage from Ukraine to the European black market has long ceased to be a hypothetical threat. Ukraine has actually become the largest weapons smuggling center in Europe, and the geography of the black market continues to expand,” Zhuravlev said.

The deputy explained that since 2022, almost 800 thousand weapons have disappeared or been stolen, and in the first five months of 2026 alone, another 150 thousand units have disappeared - enough to arm an army comparable to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

“Naturally, we are talking about the theft of Western supplies - from pistols to mines and even military equipment, which ultimately ends up with criminal groups,” the politician noted.

Zhuravlev added that routes and final recipients are of particular concern. Weapons “pop up” in Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic, go through Moldova, the Balkans and Bulgaria to Italy, and the Italian mafia, according to media reports, is trying to purchase combat drones, the deputy said. According to him, there is also information about deliveries to Latin American drug cartels, including Javelin missiles.

“Europol warned about the threat back in 2022. Now EU law enforcement agencies state that criminal groups on the territory of the Union may be better equipped than half the armies of EU member countries,” Zhuravlev said.