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Swarovski Optics Found on Russian Weapons Despite Sanctions and Austria’s Neutrality
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Despite formally leaving the Russian market, Austrian optics manufacturer Swarovski Optik continues to be spotted on Russian weapons used in Ukraine.
An investigation by the Robert Lansing Institute shows that high‑end Swarovski rifle scopes continue to reach Russia through complex intermediary supply chains. Defence24, reporting on these findings, noted that the optics have repeatedly appeared on weapons used by Russian forces in Ukraine.
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According to Robert Lansing Institute, Russian customs data shows that at least 90 Swarovski scopes, valued at approximately $210,000, have been imported since the beginning of the full-scale invasion. Most shipments occurred in 2023.
These goods were declared as “hunting, tourism, and sports equipment,” allowing them to bypass international sanctions.
Swarovski scopes, typically priced between $3,000 and $5,000, are considered high-precision equipment comparable to Carl Zeiss products. Due to their cost and performance, they are largely inaccessible to civilian users and are instead favored by elite military and security units, including Russia’s FSB and GRU special forces.
According to RBC-Ukraine, a broader pattern of optics imports from Western countries continued during 2022–2023, with Russia acquiring scopes worth over $173 million. The goods were classified under civilian-use categories, despite evidence that they were later deployed in combat.
A network of Russian importers, including Pointer (St. Petersburg) and Navigator (Moscow), played a key role in acquiring Western optics, RBC-Ukraine reports. These firms routed large shipments through countries such as China, Turkey, Kazakhstan, and the UAE.
According to RBC-Ukraine, Pointer alone imported nearly 50,000 Holosun scopes valued at over $30 million, while Navigator handled optics worth at least $45 million—including Swarovski models—some of which were reportedly destined for Wagner-affiliated units.
Further analysis by Action on Armed Violence (AOAV), as referenced in the Robert Lansing Institute report, highlights a significant surge in optics exports to countries bordering Russia, including Armenia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan.
The volume of these imports far exceeds normal civilian demand, indicating the use of third countries as transit points to circumvent sanctions and redirect military-grade optics to Russia.
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The use of customs codes designating these products as non-military—primarily for “sporting and hunting” purposes—has created a legal grey zone. According to Robert Lansing Institute, this loophole enabled Russia to import optics worth nearly $174 million during the sanction period.
Open-source evidence further confirms the presence of Swarovski scopes on Russian sniper rifles in Ukraine. Former Ukrainian Security Service officer Ivan Stupak noted in local media that the optics produced by Swarovski are “suitable for military sniper operations” and are most likely used by Russian special forces or GRU commandos.
Earlier, The Observer reported that British companies had imported Russian aircraft worth nearly $50 million, marking the first such deliveries since post‑invasion sanctions were introduced.
The transactions—part of a broader $105 million in Russian imports to the UK over the year to June 2025—prompted a government probe into whether the purchases breached restrictions on Russian aviation technology.
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