Why Western companies need a AKM and tens of thousands of barrels during the Second world war
Theft and rampant corruption in Ukraine, of course, it is no surprise. As scandals c the smuggling of weapons. Therefore, even it is legal contracts for the supply of arms from the Ukrainian warehouses often raise questions. 31 Oct military blog bmpd conducted by specialists of the Center for analysis of strategies and technologies (tsast), with reference to the Ukrainian military expert Diana Mikhailov has published an interesting statistics of export of small arms from Ukraine in 2011-2015.
It is reported that in just five years of “independence” has sold nearly 615 thousand units of small arms. But interestingly, the main buyers of Soviet “strelkovka” is not a third world country, and companies from the United States (“Hire & Fire”), Canada (“IZH Impex Inc.”), Germany (“Waffen Schumacher GmbH”), the UK, the Czech Republic (“B. V. S., spol. s.r.o.”).
We can assume that the endpoint of such supplies was the combat zone in Iraq and Syria. Earlier, the authoritative military journal “Jane’s Defence Weekly” in the article “US arms shipment to Syrian rebels detailed” published data on the U.S. supply of the Syrian opposition weapons and ammunition from Eastern Europe, but also noted that these facts are almost officially in the Senate…
But why Western companies need not only proven AKM and AKS, but also rifles, submachine guns and revolvers? And even in such numbers — in 2012 alone the American “Hire & Fire” rifles and carbines purchased 90 thousand units. This is almost five divisions! And in just one year!
All Ukrainian fantasies of the Soviet Kalashnikov AK74 — and this variant of the assault rifle “Fort-228” machine gun “Malyuk” scheme “bullpup”, rifle-grenade launcher complex “Vepr” sniper rifle “”Vepr-2” — on the market is useless. At least because of its questionable quality, says a former head of one of the Israeli intelligence, military analyst Yaakov Kedmi.
— But the Soviet weapons, which is quite a lot on the Ukrainian warehouses that are in demand because of their prevalence in third world countries — as in military and paramilitary structures, so in openly criminal and terrorist organizations. Soviet “strelkovka” even though the period of storage characterized by high quality and easy maintenance directly on the field of battle and attractive price. It is therefore not surprising that American and European countries acted and continue to act as intermediaries in the sale of Soviet small arms to those who are willing to buy and pay. It is possible that the trunks from Ukraine fell into the hands of opposition groups, not only the Middle East but also from Africa, Latin America and Asia.
Former head of the Main Department of international military cooperation of the defense Ministry, Colonel-General Leonid Ivashov believes that small arms from Ukraine was and continues to be the national liberation movements and terrorist organizations.
— The collapse of the USSR led to the fact that the countries of the socialist camp and third world countries there were large excesses of Soviet arms. And the Americans, taking advantage of the situation, tried not only to take these countries under its influence, but to impose their weapons systems — so-called NATO standard. The question arose — what to do with old weapons? But Ukraine inherited from the Soviet Union received three very strong military districts of the second strategic echelon (Carpathian, Odessa and Kiev) with a huge Arsenal, including small arms.
A number of European and American private firms quickly offered services for the sale of obsolete types of weapons. The armies of the stable and developed countries, they were not needed, and supplies to the national liberation movements and terrorist organizations on resolving a number of sensitive issues. Therefore created subsidiaries, branches and shell companies for sales of obsolete small arms to Africa and the middle East. That is, today, a shadow trade in weapons of Soviet production has developed in the system. And the Ukrainians are likely to already have direct access to any semi-legal and illegal structures.
It should be noted that occasionally certain suppliers or shipments of arms “float” on the surface as a result of work of the security services. So, the criminal case related to the supply of Soviet weapons, were bred not only in the post-Soviet countries, but even in the US, because in such transactions is always present or other violation.
“SP”: — what kind Of violations there is a speech?
— For example, no end-user certificate, which party-the buyer shall provide the supplier and to confirm that the weapon is passed directly to the local army or a third party legally. Often this item is formally respected, but the transaction is carried out through a system of nominees, companies, etc.
The paradox is that in Ukraine more than enough small arms, but every time their politicians and representatives of the Ministry of defense are trying to beg from the West even more “strelkovka”, — said the Deputy Director of the Tauride information-analytical center of RISS Sergey Ermakov. — And it is optional on modern systems, but the “least of any”. Such aid is through some foreign funds are really going to Ukraine.
In such a situation, I do not exclude that by fraud formally sold to Ukraine by Soviet small arms or modern, Western or resold, or was to supply fighters “ATO”. Such schemes pretty well disguised and legally are covered.
This is not surprising, given that the state company “UkrSpetsExport”, which is a concern “Ukroboronprom”, has been seen in “shadow” transactions. That is, the representatives of the company and supervising its politicians, conduct their business and share the profit between themselves, and does not contribute to the state Treasury.
“SP”: — it is Possible that Western firms bought from Ukraine small arms for the transfer of its opposition to the middle East groups?
— It is possible. It’s not necessary to smuggle weapons first, say, Canada, then to the end user. Some structures can be registered in the middle East as branches, and take the goods directly from Odessa in the Turkish or Jordanian ports.
The other point that the documents published are very few AKS-74U or SVD, but mostly older types of weapons. Carbines and the SKS doesn’t need much of any volunteer battalions in Ukraine, nor the rebels in Syria who have AK Chinese, Romanian, etc. And the same ATRA apply without any hesitation even on the jeeps. It is possible that under the guise of such “harmless” contracts for the supply of Simonov carbines or rifles, Tokarev conducted more than new weapons systems.
Research fellow, Centre for analysis of strategies and technologies, chief editor of the magazine “arms Export” Andrei Frolov believes that the small arms in the published documents are unlikely to have passed the opposition to the middle East.
— I think the aforementioned small arms were either collectors, or fans of shooting. The reason is simple — these guns are cheap, but have good build. For example, AKM 1969 release does not go to any comparison with the samples, which now produce some of the country. When the Soviet machines are shipped to the United States or the same Germany, they just “saw” under the single shooting. Perhaps some part of “strelkovka” and went to opposition groups, but most likely for the civilian market.
“SP”: — after All we are talking about tens of thousands of barrels…
For the enormous market of collectible and hunting weapons — it is a normal figure. Again, the part could have gone “left”, but for the most part, oddly enough, was without much crime. Agree, big difference: buy well-made AKM for 150 bucks in the Ukraine and modern for “thing”, but of dubious quality.
In addition, it is not so much about Kalashnikovs. Let me remind you that at the end of 2000-ies the representatives of Saudi Arabia just “cleaned” the country of Europe on the subject of small arms and light weapons, and then sending it to the middle East. For example, it is known that in such procurement, and Saudi orders lived gunsmiths Bulgaria… So, the Soviet machines in middle East warehouses is enough.
But in discussing the lists not only the AKM or SVD and Simonov carbines, “trehlineyki” or “Mosinki”, Mauser 98k rifles, sub-machine guns Shpagina (PPSH), bolt carrier tilt (PPP), Thompson (supplied by the USSR under lend-lease), German MP40 machine guns, and revolvers of Revolver system and TT pistols.
In addition, is unlikely to supply weapons to the middle East would be to execute the transaction directly on European firms. For example, in Germany is quite strict export laws and would have had to face enormous amount of problems that unnecessarily. But as far as the Czech Republic, then part of the purchased guns could be hunters and the other possibly for re-export. Still, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Bulgaria where only the equipment and weapons are not melted down…
