Steven Seagal incriminé dans un vaste réseau de contrebande d’armes de guerre orchestré par la Russie
Ukrainian security services have dismantled a large-scale arms trafficking network based in Russian-occupied territories. The traffickers sold weapons of war and explosives to criminal groups, but also supplied some parts to active supporters of the Russian regime, such as the American actor Steven Seagal.
It was no secret that Steven Seagal was among the Western figures close to authoritarian regimes in general and the Kremlin in particular. In 2016, he obtained Serbian and then Russian citizenship, receiving his passport directly from Vladimir Putin. In 2023, while war raged in Ukraine, the Russian president also awarded the aikido champion and action movie star of the 1980s and 90s the Order of Friendship. This award was given to the actor for “his great contribution to the development of international cultural and humanitarian cooperation.”
The award was already quite ironic at the time, but it takes on a whole new meaning now that, according to Ukrainian intelligence, Steven Seagal is linked to a major arms trafficking network. In a statement released on April 28, Ukrainian authorities referred to a network centered on the Donetsk People's Republic, the separatist republic since annexed by Russia, and its unrecognized "leader," Denis Pushilin.
The weapons in question were allegedly stolen from the occupied territories or imported through illegal channels in Slovakia. “These include Glock-type pistols chambered in Flobert caliber [ammunition that is much simpler to manufacture], which, after being imported from Slovakia, were converted into fully functional combat weapons,” Kyiv's intelligence services explained. “They were then sold to criminals, passed on to illegal armed groups, and used as a means of inciting people who do not have the legal right to possess combat weapons.”
They have also served as gifts to supporters of the Russian regime, whether state officials or public figures. Steven Seagal is believed to be among the recipients of such gifts, as are Kim Jong-un, Bashar al-Assad, and Dmitry Medvedev. Ukrainians note that these weapons can shift from gifts to leverage for Moscow, by threatening recipients with denunciation for illegal weapon possession.
The smuggling operations, supply routes, and members of the organized crime group were uncovered as early as January by Ukrainian intelligence. In April, a large-scale operation was launched to dismantle it, involving more than 30 simultaneous raids in the Kyiv, Transcarpathian, and Sumy regions. Several suspects—all Ukrainian nationals—were arrested with the assistance of Polish law enforcement as they attempted to cross the border with a shipment of weapons.
In total, more than 35,000 rounds of ammunition, over 150 grenade launcher projectiles, explosives, and smoke grenades were seized, along with more than 90 firearms. These included machine guns, pistols and submachine guns, sniper rifles, including large-caliber rifles, at least seven grenade launchers and anti-tank weapons, dozens of grenades and detonators, TM-62M anti-tank mines, 30mm shells, and a light armored vehicle, according to the Ukrainian authorities. They obtained a list of numerous arms caches through interrogations of the arrested suspects, and it is likely that the dismantling of this network is only just beginning.
While Steven Seagal's involvement in this affair might raise a few eyebrows, it shouldn't obscure the main point: Russia has managed to establish an arms trafficking network supplying the European Union. This is a way for Moscow, likely with complicity in countries like Slovakia, to forge links with criminal groups that can help it carry out sabotage in the West.
Commentaires (6)
Participer à la Discussion
Règles de la communauté
💡 Astuce : Utilisez des emojis depuis votre téléphone ou le module emoji ci-dessous. Cliquez sur GIF pour ajouter un GIF animé. Collez un lien X/Twitter, TikTok ou Instagram pour l'afficher automatiquement.
Se connecter
Commentez avec votre profil, votre photo, et soyez averti des réponses.