Russian defense companies supplied spare parts for North Macedonia’s Mi-24 attack helicopters through Polish intermediaries in 2016, bypassing Western sanctions imposed on Moscow after its annexation of Crimea, according to documents published by the investigative groups InformNapalm and Militant Intelligence.
The investigation shows that Polish defense firms acted as middlemen between state institutions and Russia’s Rostec conglomerate, facilitating contracts worth hundreds of thousands of euros despite restrictions on military cooperation with Moscow.
Contract worth over half a million euros
One 2015 contract with Russian Helicopters – a Rostec subsidiary – was amended in 2016, with Polit-Elektronik, a Polish company, making a 70% advance payment of €543,690, the documents show.
Payments were made through Russia’s Novikombank via a correspondent account at Germany’s Commerzbank in Frankfurt. Analysts said the transactions highlight how Russia’s defense industry continued to use European financial channels for military exports even after EU and U.S. sanctions.
A separate 2016 letter from Polit-Elektronik to Russian Helicopters confirmed a delivery schedule for rotor blades for Mi-24 helicopters operated by North Macedonia’s Defense Ministry.
Poland’s state-owned Wojskowe Zakłady Lotnicze No.1 (WZL-1), based in Łódź, was also involved in the process. The facility provides maintenance, repair and modernization of Soviet-designed helicopters including the Mi-2, Mi-8/17, Mi-14 and Mi-24, serving both the Polish armed forces and private clients.
Coordination despite sanctions
By coordinating on supplies for a third country, Poland’s and Russia’s defense industries effectively cooperated on military projects in violation of the sanctions regime, InformNapalm said. Polish intermediaries enabled Russia’s defense sector to participate in international tenders indirectly.
“This case demonstrates how Russia found ways to circumvent sanctions and remain active on the European defense market,” the group said.
North Macedonia agreed in 2023 to transfer its Mi-24 helicopters to Ukraine as part of military assistance against Russia’s invasion. Some of the aircraft may have contained components supplied under the 2016 deals, according to analysts.