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Russia’s Aramid Shortage Stalls Body Armor Production, Court Fines Factory
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![Photo of Vlad Litnarovych]( "Photo of Vlad Litnarovych")
A Russian textile factory has failed to fulfill a major contract for body armor materials due to a lack of aramid fibers, exposing the strain on Moscow’s defense supply chains as the war in Ukraine grinds on, according to Russian outlet Mashnews, citing the Moscow Arbitration Court, on October 3.
The company Peredovaya Tekstilshchitsa was fined 300,000 rubles ($3,600) for refusing to supply 400,000 linear meters of specialized fabric ordered by Tekhinkom, a defense contractor that manufactures bulletproof vests for Russia’s Ministry of Defense.
The dispute began after the textile plant declined to sign the contract, prompting Tekhinkom to file a complaint with the Federal Antimonopoly Service. Regulators sided with the defense firm, and the court upheld the fine despite objections from the manufacturer.
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In court, company representatives argued that production required “Ruslan” aramid fiber, allegedly made exclusively by Kamenskvolokno in Kamensk-Shakhtinsky. The factory insisted it could not deliver the order because its raw material supplier lacked capacity.
Kamenskvolokno remains Russia’s primary producer of aramid fibers—essential for making body armor. In 2022, the company produced 242 tons, while competitors managed only around four tons each. The plant’s annual capacity is capped at roughly 350 tons.
Since 2022, imports of aramid materials from the European Union have nearly ceased under sanctions, forcing Russia to rely on “friendly” states for supply.
Still, Kamenskvolokno declined to provide the required volume, citing “technical limitations.” The court found the arguments unconvincing, noting the factory had not proven the order was impossible to fulfill.
The case also underscored the tightening legal environment for the Russian industry. Under amendments to Russia’s defense law passed in 2022, companies are prohibited from refusing contracts tied to the supply of the armed forces.
Tekhinkom manufactures the “Barmitsa,” “Ratnik,” and “Zabrаlo” series of body armor—all of which require specialized aramid-based fabrics.
Earlier, Kazakhstan’s customs service dramatically tightened inspections of cargo traffic bound for Russia, creating massive queues at border crossings.
Since mid-September, officers have been inspecting 99% of trucks carrying potentially sanction-sensitive goods from China into Russia. This has triggered multi-kilometer jams along the Kazakh-Russian frontier.
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