How Czech Machines Keep Fueling Russia’s War Industry Despite Sanctions

Czech-made metalworking machines continue to enter Russia despite sanctions, with some reportedly used by the Russian military-industrial complex.

According to an investigation by The Insider, at least 12 Czech manufacturers have supplied such equipment to Russia since 2023, often via indirect routes through countries such as Estonia, Serbia, Turkey, and Latvia.

The majority of these exports are dual-use technologies — machinery applicable to both civilian and military manufacturing. Three companies—Šmeral Brno, Varnsdorf, and TAJMAC-ZPS—account for the largest share of exports, valued at approximately $8 million in 2024 alone.

Routes and methods

Customs data examined by The Insider show that in 2023, Russia imported Czech metalworking machines worth $18 million; in 2024, the value dropped to $12 million. While the origin was formally listed as third countries, the manufacturing traces lead back to Czech firms. In some cases, the equipment was delivered through subsidiaries registered in Russia.

Šmeral Brno, for example, produces turnkey machine tools and forming lines. Though deliveries appeared to originate from Serbia, one recipient in Russia was a Šmeral-controlled entity. Similarly, Pilous-Pásové Pily, a Czech company specializing in band saws for metal cutting, exported machinery to a St. Petersburg-based firm—70% of which it owns.

One case documented by The Insider involves equipment supplied to a company located next to a Shahed drone production facility in the Alabuga Special Economic Zone.

The firm, Yugostroy Ru—now dissolved—was majority-owned by Czech company Jihostroj a.s. and received a rack press for manufacturing gear pumps. The press was produced by Jihostroj itself.

Identified Czech manufacturers

According to The Insider, the following Czech companies were linked to exports of metalworking equipment to Russia in 2023–2024:

• Šmeral Brno

• Varnsdorf

• TAJMAC-ZPS

• Pilous-Pásové Pily

• Jihostroj a.s.

• N.Ko

• Prestar

• Tachtech s.r.o.

• Stroje Zeman Trade

• Permico s.r.o.

These companies supplied a range of industrial machinery, including presses, lathes, band saws, and pipe cutters, with potential military or energy-sector applications.

Tachtech s.r.o. continues to operate a Russian branch—Takhtech Rus—which remains active in the Russian market as of 2025. Permico, another firm named in the report, confirmed selling used Korean-made Doosan lathes to third countries but denied direct trade with Russia.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy raised the issue during a press conference, stating that eight Czech companies were supplying machinery to Russia’s defense sector. Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský responded that he was unaware of such firms but pledged to investigate.

Minister of Industry and Trade Lukáš Vlček also confirmed plans for a probe, while Minister for European Affairs Martin Dvořák noted that such sanctions evasion “would not be surprising.”

Earlier, a South Korean company, DN Solutions, was found to have supplied machine tools—via Chinese intermediaries—that ended up at Russian facilities producing Lancet drones and Iskander missile systems.

According to Ukraine’s Economic Security Council, over $19 million worth of equipment was delivered under contracts signed in 2023–2024. DN Solutions denied any direct exports to Russia and claimed to have cut ties with the implicated Chinese distributors.

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