Russian NLMK plants continue operating in the EU despite ties to the Russian military-industrial complex

Events

Despite verified evidence of the Russian company NLMK’s involvement in the production of weapons used to kill Ukrainians, the group’s factories on the outskirts of Brussels remain operational, according to Ukrainska pravda. Investigative journalist Mykhailo Tkach visited two NLMK-owned plants in Belgium. The company belongs to Vladimir Lisin, one of Russia’s wealthiest individuals and a close associate of Vladimir Putin, the illegitimate leader of the aggressor state.

According to information obtained by Ukrainska Pravda, NLMK supplies electrical steel to several Russian factories involved in the production of cruise and ballistic missiles, drones, and nuclear weapons – including S-300 and S-400 systems frequently used to strike Ukrainian cities.

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Lisin’s Belgian plants continue to operate without restrictions, sourcing raw materials directly from Russia. Eurostat data shows that Belgium imported nearly €660 million worth of Russian slabs, the report states. Despite these ties, Lisin has not been subjected to any EU sanctions.

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Context

In November 2024, Ukraine’s presidential envoy for sanctions policy, Vladyslav Vlasyuk, reported that Russia had exported €3 billion worth of mining and metallurgical complex products to the EU in 2023, and a further €2.1 billion in the first nine months of 2024. He argued that sanctions exemptions for certain categories of Russian goods – particularly metallurgical products – should be revoked.
Vlasyuk proposed shortening the transition period for Russian metal imports, ending it by late 2024 instead of extending it until 2028 as currently planned. He also called on the EU to impose personal sanctions against Vladimir Lisin and the NLMK Group, citing Lisin’s longstanding ties to Vladimir Putin and his alleged role in supporting Russia’s "shadow fleet" operations.