Uriel Araujo, researcher with a focus on international and ethnic conflicts.
The same way sanctions are not working and are backfiring, Western massive arms transfers to Kiev have been a disaster, from anyone’s perspective. In an interview to US “National Defense”, Ukrainian Army Brigadier General Volodymyr Karpenko has admitted his country lost almost 50% of all weaponry and equipment it received. Some of it got destroyed, but that is not the whole story.
Russian Channel One reported on how the Ukrainian military abandons weapons as they retreat. The abandoned US-made Javelins and German anti-tank mines were filmed. Moreover, weaponry sent to Ukraine is ending up in black markets and is being sold in the so-called darknet and deep web platforms. There, one can buy Javellin anti-tank systems for about $ 30,000 or British NLAW systems for half the price. There is a demand for that, of course. Terrorists and criminal gangs are the buyers.
This situation has alarmed the Interpol and other international and European bodies. Already on May 28, Europol director Catherine De Bolle voiced her concerns about the war increasing the inpourring of arms into the continent’s black markets. Such weapons could reach political players in the Middle East involved in local conflicts, and spread all over the region, even reaching currently unstable locations such as Somali, Sudan, Yemen, and Egypt. Arms shipments to Bosnia, Kosovo and Albania are in fact being investigated and such can aggravate the security problem in the Balkans – and in the Sahel also.
The so-called Islamic State or ISIS, the terrorist organization also known as the Daesh, is reorganizing itself this time in the Sahel, according to Victoria Nuland herself (the US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs), who has stated so in May. There are reports that criminal groups in Albania and Kosovo are selling arms to ISIS.
Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova stated on June 9 that “arms shipment to Ukraine will lead to the emergence of an arms black market, especially in Western Europe.” Interpol Secretary General Jurgen Stock has voiced similar concerns about Africa and the Balkans becoming the destination of Western arms supplied to Kiev, as reported by Le Figaro news. He said: “The wide availability of weapons during the current conflict will lead to the proliferation of illicit weapons in the post-conflict phase.” Actually, this is already happening, as seen in the dark web.
It is a well known fact that the Ukrainian armed forces are incredibly corrupt. Ukraine has long been believed to be one of the major arms trafficking markets in Europe. It has also emerged as an import transit destination for drugs such as heroin. It has the third highest criminality score of 33 countries in Europe. In today’s world, illict trade plays a major role in the financing of terrorist and extremist networks globally.
In November last year a club in Kiev was the target of a homophobic terrorist attack. It was stormed by masked men and later an explosive device was thrown at the building. Centuria, a Ukrainian paramilitary group with links to the Azov Regiment (formerly known as the Azov Battalion) seems to be behind the crime. No one was killed, but this ultra-nationalist group already patrols Ukraine’s cities. With the war, the migration crisis and the black market, Europe could see armed groups and terrorist attacks such as these spreading to its capitals.
In 2019 a senior Daesh leader, Al-Bara Shishani, was arrested in Ukraine and Azov leaders are known to sympathize with the group, even adopting some of its tactics. As early as 2015, collaboration between Islamic radicals and Ukrainian militias has been reported.
In December 2021, before the current crisis, I wrote that should a war ensue, Ukraine would be defeated by Russia (for a number of reasons), but far-right Ukrainian groups – aided and armed by NATO and possibly by Turkish ultra-nationalist networks – could remain active in sabotage and terrorism operations, thus turning the “post-conflict” phase into a long nightmarish “frozen conflict” scenario of counter-insurgency and irregular warfare.
Amid the humanitarian catastrophe, I wrote, the European continent should expect an increase in terrorism and crime amid an increasing migration crisis. Of course most of the refugees are law-abiding families escaping the tragedy of war, but paramilitary men and extremists can make their way into Western Europe too – and Ukrainian Neo-Nazism has been largely white-washed. European far-right militias already cooperate with Ukraine’s nationalists, and the country is already a new hub for far-right activity. Isaac Kfir, a Charles Sturt University Professor and part of the International Institute for Justice and the Rule of Law advisory board, has warned that Ukraine has the potential to become “the Syria of the extreme right”.
In the same way US-led Western policies – directly or indirectly – aided both the Al-Qaeda and the Daesh, there is every reason to believe that in a few years Europe will be haunted by a new kind of far-right terror reminiscent of the infamous Gladio Operation, when Washington funded European far-right groups as a secret anti-Soviet army during the Cold War.
One can only wonder why European leaders would be so ready to accept these risks. This is the true reason countries such as Germany, Greece, Hungary, and even Israel have at times been reluctant to further arm Kiev or to allow weapons transit. It appears that from an American perspective Europe itself is but another US proxy.
Source: InfoBrics
Fun fun fun!! Enjoy the misery my little Euro poodles.
Ukraine has been the go to country for running weapons since the fall of the Soviet Union – and probably before that – even. It was Old Joe’s choice of countries for receiving his kickbacks because everyone could be so easily bought – everything from guns to women were the Ukie’s exports.
They sold North Korea rocket engines.
And this is the country that welcomes the EU statement of its future admission to its organisation . it shows the EU,s words are worthless in the face of its Masters Orders in the USA.BTW – Bilderberg have announced they will be replacing the $$$ with a new currency tied to a countries GDP.
And as we all know, the US GDP is massively inflated by fraud on a global scale.
Slava Rossiya.
I was thinking the same but who owns & controls Bilderberg–there is your answer.
Regular warfare, irregular warfare, it’s all the same to the USadmin and its nato poodles. Me thinks the idea is to keep the Russian military busy whilst they find another way in. So far all attempts have failed. The only success the US has acheived so far is to have kept all their poodles barking for so long.
Soon it will be winter and the poodles will be whining on the US porch, about the cold.
Americans will be whining too, since so many drive their idiotic large cars and will be paying through the nose to keep them on the road.
Yes, but barking dogs can be irritating.
Yeah, seized weapons, sold by Russians. If they steal washing machines and TVs, you know they’ll steal and try to sell weapons as well!
Say “oink!”
If you don’t want the Russians selling them, quit supplying the losing army that leaves them behind as they run away. At least the French rubber coat their weapons since they are used to having them drop when they surrender.
Sure, the Russian army is selling them, COD Kiev.
Go away, moron.
Actually, you’re dead wrong. Either they blow them up or give them to the peoples of the Dombass. They already have quite a collection.
OK Shlomo.
Just 30 thousands for 250-thousand missile. IRA, basques, catalans, probable People Republic of Scotland, do you hear? Don’t forget to change batteries.
The “Peoples Republic of Scotland ” are a very small group affiliated to the IRA-watched night & day by MI6 or its new name-like the Socialist Party of Great Britain ( headquartered in Edinburgh ) they have very little following as the vast majority of Scots don’t support them or vote for them.
That’s what they said about the nazi goons in Ukraine. No more than a few percent in votes. But they still ended up running the country.
The SPoGB is a Marxist website and have never attracted more than a few % of the population the UK government doesn’t bother about it as they know its not popular .The PRoS is also far left but with its links to the IRA and involvement a good while ago with violence does attract attention of UK security but has never gained popularity and never will.
Interesting information, thanks.
NATO urged to prepare for the use of nuclear weapons against Russia NATO should prepare for the fact that the alliance will have to use nuclear weapons against Russia. This call was made by the commander of the Air Force (Air Force) of Germany, General Ingo Gerhartz, at the international symposium of sea powers Seapowers in Kiel, Bild reports.
“NATO needs to prepare in advance for the use of nuclear weapons, as an emergency can arise at any moment. For a reliable deterrent, we need both the means of destruction and the political will to implement a nuclear deterrent, if necessary, ”said the German general.
Earlier, the ex-Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland and the current member of the European Parliament Radoslaw Sikorski said that Russia allegedly violated the provisions of the Budapest Memorandum, so Western countries have the right to transfer nuclear weapons to Ukraine.
On June 7, NATO Assistant Secretary General Camille Grand said that NATO was refusing to provide Russia with guarantees not to deploy nuclear weapons in Sweden and Finland if they join the alliance.
https : / / news . mail . ru / politics/51844412/?frommail=1
Of course right on Russia,s border so Russia has nuke submarines round the USA/UK and Kaliningrad now has armed missiles .
He who plays with fire gets burned…
the gift that keeps on giving…what’s the commission on arm sales to the UK-NAZI that sell them on the black market
Get Tor and go on the Dark Net but I hope your computer has a good firewall and if Windows a very good virus protection–DON’T click on anything unless your browser is rock solid and if you live in the USA – watch out for Homeland Security /CIA /FBI breaking your door down at 2am..
The same CIA that’s giving them the weapons now wants to deny them making a living?
How typically CIA.
They want their cut. Don’t you know that?
The CIA has always been a cut above the rest.
People don’t understand the fact that once these get reversed engineered by Iranian and Russian engineers, these weapons will be so much better and will only be supplied to the axis of resistance. Other countries and groups who buy these will only have the regular version. When Iran upgraded an old Chinese c802, Israel radars couldn’t even identify a missile was being sent by Hezbollah, imagine what they can do with up to date modern weapons
Would be kind of amusing if Russia starts selling all the western weapons they have captured to various armed groups :p
What, and duplicate America’s modus operandi? Perish the thought.
In WW2 they had the Liberator, a small one off pistol made from pressed metal with 5 rounds. They dropped them into France and the idea was that the Resistance would use them to kill Germans and get their weapons. Seems clear that the Russians would do the same, sending in lots of small arms to fuel the criminal classes of a country. Its amazing that it isn’t so widespread as you might imagine. Clearly large shipments of drugs enter the country every day, often including guns. All Russia needs are small purpose built drone delivery subs and Russian collaborators to collect and distribute.
Did you hear this, Arabs? Next time a Jewmerican helicopter flies over your land to rape and pillage you, you better have these.
Hamas does have MANPADS. Hamas pulled them out once, and the Zionist ran away like cowards
Like The Donald said in a recent interview, the US has given Ukraine $50 billion, while Europe has given it peanuts. And its Europe’s problem! (Note that Justin Castreaux has debated giving Ukraine $5 MILLION.)
BTW, Captcha would not let the above comment through when I used The Donald’s real name. Captcha has become a major agent of censorship on this platform. Who owns Captcha? And what AI do they use? Disappointing. SF, please stop using Captcha. This has happened before.
Captcha’s a major pain in the ass. Half the times, doesn’t work. Half the time after correct clicks, asks you 5 times anyway.
And many Europeans wish the US would just not get involved and not give any money at all. There would be no war without the US support. As such, it is be defacto a proxy US war.
Except it’s the Euros themselves that kept kicking the Minsk II can down the street.
Inactions have consequences
Mexican drug cartels will be the biggest buyers.
Wouldn’t it be karma if some terrorist used a Javelin to blow up Biden’s limo or a stinger to shoot-down Air Force One on take-off. The same could be said of Bojo in the UK and others in Europe.
The Azov type radicals are similar to ISIS in that they have no ideological commitments and certainly do not condemn Israel. In fact, at the very least, they both are clients of Israeli intelligence.
Azov and like-minded radicals think it’s they who are using the West, Israel etc. to further their goals and it’s the West, Israel etc. who think it’s they who are using Azov and like-minded radicals to further their goals.
It’s a battle of nit-wits.
The US is considering ”doubling shipments of weapon systems to Ukraine.” It would be great if Russia bought these new systems on the dark web and then displayed them on the field with Russian troops using them. The embarrassment factor would be worth the money
Why bother buying what is being handed over free of charge?
Yes, often perplexed me why we never see heavy weapons used in ‘terrorist’ attacks in the UK etc. During peace that’s more understandable, but its inevitable now that these weapons will find their way into peoples garages and sheds and be traded about until some organisation uses one. In the UK we have a small number of cases were grenades were used by criminals and gangs. That’s not surprising considering their size, but never RPGs. I would not be surprised if we don’t start seeing these things reaching gangs in Poland, Germany and France if not the UK. The longer this war goes on the more weapons, especially firearms, are going to filter across borders. These ground to air anti-aircraft systems are being left about on the ground, they will get picked up by ‘honest farmers’ and eventually aviation is going to be at risk from madmen and terrorists everywhere. Manpads by their nature are very portable. The sooner this war stops the sooner that risk ends. I imagine a lot of refugees see guns as good for defence and trading with. After all, they have no money of value, but a gun or weapon will hold its value and be a tool of last resort for the man that has lost everything.
This was predictable. Compared to Ukraine’s native currency, the hryvnia, military equipment is the same as having inflation protected assets.
so, it makes absolute sence that the russians try to sell those captured weapons in the dark net …get money and perhaps even strengthen some left or right wing terrorists. Then again, with the typical corruption in russia, I could imagine that this is done rather by single soldiers/officers.
i wish buy some HK 47 or 50 brg semi auto