Kalashnikov’s AK-12 Wasn’t Quite So Russian—As Chinese Parts Slipped Into Production

A former senior procurement executive at Russia’s Kalashnikov Concern has gone on trial over an alleged scheme to supply Chinese-made components for AK-12 assault rifles while presenting them as domestically produced parts.

Ksenia Grashchenkova, formerly Kalashnikov’s director of procurement and logistics, is on trial in Izhevsk on charges of abusing her authority while carrying out a state defense order, according to Russian media Kommersant on October 12.

Investigators estimate the alleged scheme caused the company about $451,000 in losses.

The case dates back to 2023, when Kalashnikov was modernizing the 5.45mm AK-12 and needed semi-finished components for two parts that could legally be sourced from outside suppliers. Investigators say businessman Alexei Morokhov, owner of Ivanovskie Kovshi, offered to manufacture them and delivered an initial trial batch that passed incoming inspection.

According to the investigation, however, Kalashnikov representatives were not told that the components had actually been produced in China using Russian technical drawings.

Investigators allege that the group later acquired another company, Montazhnik, renamed it Intertekhnika, and offered to manufacture 84,000 semi-finished parts inside Russia. The company reportedly lacked the machinery, production facilities, and qualified workforce needed to fulfill such an order.

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Despite that, Grashchenkova allegedly signed a contract on Kalashnikov’s behalf in October 2023 with Intertekhnika chief Yury Chernyshev for 80,000 components worth more than $1.3 million.

Prosecutors say the parts were never actually manufactured in Russia. Instead, production and procurement were organized in China through Jiangsu Origin Machinery Co., Ltd. and Taizhou Hongze Trading Co., with the goods described in contracts as screw nuts.

Kalashnikov reportedly accepted 2,775 components from the first shipment and 14,414 from the second, although part of the supply was rejected during quality control. Investigators say the Chinese-made semi-finished parts failed to meet the customer’s requirements and therefore should not have been paid for.

Earlier, the Kalashnikov Concern recently announced a new, compact, single-shot 12-gauge shotgun designed to neutralize small, low-flying drones, while many individuals state that it is only good for committing suicide.

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