Sanctions are sanctions, and business is business. The Austrians sold sniper scopes to Russia

High-end rifle scopes from the Austrian company Swarovski Optik still reach Russia through complex chains of intermediaries and are mounted on sniper weapons used by the Russians in the war with Ukraine, according to findings by the Ukrainian website iStories and the American Robert Lansing Institute (RLI).

The Austrian authorities have repeatedly refused to deliver weapons to Kiev, citing neutrality. However, at the same time, they exported to Russia not only optical sights, but also Steyr Mannlicher rifles and pistols, which are used in the war in Ukraine, as previously reported by TheInsider, an independent Russian investigative website.

According to customs data cited by Ukrainian iStories, at least 90 optical sights manufactured by Swarovski Optik, a company known for the production of jewelry and advanced optics, have been sent to Russia since the beginning of the war. Most of them were delivered in 2023. The total value of these sales is over a quarter of a million dollars.

The documents describe that the scopes are not military goods and are intended for “hunting, tourism and target shooting.” However, the Swarovski optics are fully combat-grade, a Conflict Intelligence Team (CIT) analyst told iStories.

These high-quality optics are indeed popular among wealthy hunters and can usually be found installed on expensive equipment used on African safaris. However, there is no problem with mounting them on combat weapons, and their only drawback is the price. Swarovski scopes are expensive; they cost up to PLN 5,000. dollars, which makes them unattainable for ordinary hunters. That's why, as a military expert explained to iStories, they usually end up in elite Russian units.

According to the American RLI, after Russia began its invasion of Ukraine, the logistics of Swarovski deliveries to Russia changed, but did not stop. Previously, products were shipped directly from Austria; now, after the company officially withdraws from the sanctioned country, the optics are exported through intermediaries from the United Arab Emirates.

However, Swarovski is not the only Western brand currently available in Russia. The Russian market offers German-made Schmidt & Bender and Steiner telescopes, as well as products from the Austrian company Kahles. Importers also offer American-made Nightforce scopes, noted RLI. (PAP)

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