Sanctions — 2026-11-11

Serbian Company Exported EUR27.5M in Machine Tools to Russian Military Plants Making Ballistic Missiles and Combat Aircraft

BLUFSerbia's absent export controls and Grindex's unlisted status leave Western enforcers with no practical lever to shut a machine-tool pipeline that directly services Russian missile and combat-aircraft production.

Ukrainian military intelligence (HUR) data obtained by RFE/RL's Schemes project show Serbian machine-tool maker Grindex shipped about €27.5 million in equipment to Russia from March 2022 to March 2025 12. HUR traced one €778,000 grinder, contracted in December 2022 with AMG, to Rostec's Rumyantsev aircraft-components association, and a second, worth over $384,000, to Rostec's Ufa Hydraulics plant, after AMG was under US sanctions 12. Sanctioned Finval Energo (about €12 million) and Unimatic MSK (about €980,000) also imported Grindex machines, though RFE/RL could not independently confirm shipments continued after sanctions 12. Unsanctioned Krona reportedly supplied a grinder to the Iskander-M designer KBM, and Moscow sole proprietor Denis Babichev imported one leased to Perm Scientific and Production Instrument-Making Company 2. Serbia's trade ministry said it issued Grindex no dual-use permits, customs reported no post-clearance checks, and Grindex did not respond 12.

Analysis
Grindex machine tools reached Rostec aircraft and missile plants through at least five Russian intermediaries, and Serbia's export-control system never examined them: no dual-use permits were issued, the ministry says it cannot tell whether the machines are controlled, and customs ran no post-clearance checks. Because Grindex is on no US or EU list, Western enforcement has no hook beyond the buyers already named. Russian declarations reportedly continued into May 2026, so the channel remains open. Confidence is low, since every account rests on one HUR dataset with no independent confirmation of post-sanction shipments or final end-users. The disclosure may serve Kyiv's push to pressure Belgrade more than it reflects a verified, ongoing flow. It narrows an October 27 list of seven supplier states to one named firm.

4 sources

Mašine srpske kompanije završavale u ruskoj vojnoj industriji nakon invazije na Ukrajinu - Radio Slobodna Evropa (RFE/RL Balkan Service)
Станки для оборонки: как сербское оборудование попадает в "Ростех" - Radio Svoboda (RFE/RL Russian Service)
Serbian company supplied Russia with €27m worth of machine tools for ballistic missiles and aircraft – investigation
Serbian company Grindex exported equipment worth 27.5 million euros to Russia - investigation - Mezha