Germany – raids and five arrested as part of alleged Russian procurement network

Germany’s Federal Prosecutor’s Office has issued a press release detailing that the German authorities this morning have arrested 5 individuals as part of raids on premises in Lübeck, Frankfurt am Main, and Nuremberg.

Five of the suspects are named as Artem I, Boris M, Eugen R, Nikita S and Daniel A. Five suspects remain wanted.

The allegation is that a German company based in Lübeck has made 16,000 deliveries to 24 different Russian defence companies with the goods valued as at least €30 million. The category of goods is not specified.

Germany – investigation into company alleged to have supplied materials for Russian drones

It is being reported that a mutual legal assistance request has been sent by German authorities to Ukraine investigating press reports of German companies alleged to have supplied materials used in the building of the Shahed drones used by Russian in the conflict with Ukraine.

The German company reported to be the target of the information gathering is Goettle Advanced Products GmbH & Co. KG and possible connections to the Russian manufacturer Composite Products LLC.

Latvia – prosecution for ammunition export to Russia

Latvia’s Prosecutor’s Office has issued a press release regarding bringing a criminal prosecution before the Riga City Court against an Estonian-Russian dual national for attempting to transport 10,000 items of ammunition into Russia.

The shipment was stopped at the Terekhov Customs crossing. As part of a search of the truck the bullets were found hidden within the driver’s cab of the truck.

Sweden – Customs board distressed Russian vessel in Swedish waters

After a Russian vessel had engine trouble and entered Swedish territorial waters, Swedish Customs boarded the vessel and commenced an investigation into whether possible sanctions or export control offences may have been committed.

The vessel, the Adler, is designated under EU sanctions, and the owner sanctioned by the US. It is reported that the cargo included arms and military equipment.

It is now being reported that the vessel has been allowed to depart Swedish waters, after the Prosecutor’s Office declined to open a criminal investigation, on the basis that there was no intent to bring the vessel or its goods into Sweden.

Estonia – four criminal convictions for Russian sanctions offences

The website containing published judgments from the Estonian courts has published a number of judgments relating to convictions for sanctions offences.

1. Conviction of Adilov Mubariz on 23 July 2025

      Decision: https://www.riigiteataja.ee/kohtulahendid/detailid.html?id=413740161

      This individual was convicted of importing a few hundred Russian cigarettes into Estonia in breach of Article 3(i)(1) of EU Regulation 833/2014. This was a second offence.

      The man was given a 3-month jail term, suspended for a 12-month probation period, and ordered to pay €798.42.

      2. Conviction of Alus Grupp OÜ and Taras Potapov on 18 September 2025

      Decision: https://www.riigiteataja.ee/kohtulahendid/detailid.html?id=419399125

      Mr Popatov was convicted of aiding and abetting the provision of a service related to a prohibited strategic good, namely resonance testing machines used in the aviation and aerospace industries. These are dual use goods

      The company Alus Grupp is a freight forwarder and Mr Popatov was one of its directors.

      Another Estonian company and its director purchased the equipment from a supplier in Switzerland and sold them to Russian customers. The invoices showed that the intended ultimate customer was a Russian company. Alus Grupp and its director, being aware of the ultimate customer, on multiple occasions transported the goods to Kazakhstan. On other occasions an intermediary based in the UAE was inserted.

      Mr Popatov was convicted. At the time of his conviction he had already served 5 months in jail. Pursuant to an agreement with the prosecution, the remainder of his 5-year sentence was suspended subject to a 5-year probation period. He was also ordered to pay a penalty of €2,215.

      The company was also convicted and given a fine of €100,000 with a further €200,000 suspended for a 5-year probation period.

      The judgment gives a detailed account of the exporting arrangements. It appears that other prosecutions of the actual exporting parties are ongoing.

      3. Conviction of Anna Shmeljova on 14 October 2025

      Decision: https://www.riigiteataja.ee/kohtulahendid/detailid.html?id=422536761

      Ms Shmeljova was convicted of multiple offences including exporting luxury goods to Russia, namely clothing and hockey skates, and importing cigarettes.

      She was ordered to pay €2,215, and given a five-month jail sentence suspended for a one year probation period.

      4. Conviction of Marine Technics Baltia OÜ and Daniil Haitin on 5 November 2025

      Decision: https://www.riigiteataja.ee/kohtulahendid/detailid.html?id=424933869

      Mr Haitin was convicted of four offences and sentenced to 4 years and eleven months in jail. This sentence was suspended for a 5 year probation period. He was ordered to pay €2,215.

      The company Marine Technics was convicted of two offences and ordered to pay €160,000, as well as €13,251.65.

      The offences related to exports of gas generators, alternators, propulsion systems, thermal cameras and other equipment to Russia, including to military end-users such as Kalashnikov Concern, and the Russian Ministry of Defence.

      False end-user certificates were prepared showing purported customers in Turkey.

      The offending had taken place between 2017 and 2019.

      The judgment notes that the court had prevented the merger or winding up of Marine Technics Baltia OÜ for the duration of the investigation in order to be able to secure a conviction and penalty.

      The judgment gives a detailed account of the exporting arrangements.

      Norway – investigation into alleged military technology exports to Russia

      After press reporting on possible breaches of Norway’s Russian sanctions by companies in the Kongsberg Group, the Public Prosecutor’s Office has confirmed that as of 25 October, it had started an investigation:

      PST has today decided to initiate an investigation of Kongsberg Discovery for violation of export control regulations. The reason for our decision is that through media coverage in recent days, information has emerged that gives PST reason to carry out further investigations“.

      Kongsberg is a state-owned arms manufacturer and is reported to have stated to the press that it has followed Norway’s regulations.

      The allegations are that equipment used for undersea surveillance have been sold and shipped to Russian military customers.

      Denmark – charges for alleged military exports to Russia

      It is being reported that the Danish authorities have charged a company and two senior executives with suspected exports of components for military goods to Russia.

      The investigation is reported to have started in 2023 and included raids in December of that year. The investigators also obtained permission to obtain phone taps on the phones of the two executives.

      The exports are alleged to have been shipped via China.

      Estonia – extradition to US on charges of supplying US goods to Russia

      The US Department of Justice has issued a press release confirming that the Estonian authorities have transferred Estonian national Andrey Shevlyakov to US custody for extradition to the US to face 18 counts of supplying US goods and technology to Russia in breach of US sanctions.

      It is being reported that Mr Shevlyakov was first detained in March 2023 as part of a joint investigation between US and Estonian authorities.

      Bulgaria – raids on companies suspected of arms exports to Russia

      It is being reported that the National Investigation Service of Bulgaria has conducted multiple raids in Sofia and elsewhere in relation to alleged arms sales to Russia.

      The raids are being conducted after information shared by Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau.

      A press release from the Prosecutor’s Office refers to raids on business and residential properties, relating to multiple companies. The only company named as the subject of the raids in the press reporting is Sage Consultants AD.

      The raids were also conducted with officers from the General Directorate for Combating Organized Crime (GDCOC) and the General Directorate Gendarmerie, Special Operations and Counterterrorism.

      © 2009- Duane Morris LLP. Duane Morris is a registered service mark of Duane Morris LLP.

      The opinions expressed on this blog are those of the author and are not to be construed as legal advice.

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