Trading with Russia: Revelations on Banned Business

In early 2025, Data Sources exposed illegal exports of embargoed goods from Europe to Russia, including luxury cars and precision machinery. The revelations prompted a criminal investigation in Germany and questions in the Italian parliament. An Italian company suspected, according to customs data, of illegally exporting a high-end machine tool threatened the newsroom with legal action—but the investigation continued. Now, Data Sources presents new evidence suggesting the machine was indeed sent to Russia. After reviewing hundreds of documents and investigating specialist Telegram groups, the journalists located a similar machine in a Russian factory. A Kazakh intermediary also explained how the sanctions are circumvented. The investigation reveals further suspected illegal exports: in 2024, machinery from another company was allegedly delivered through the same network to a Russian energy-sector firm, with a total value of around €300,000.