---
title: "Finland Unveils €5.9 Million Scheme: Pumps and Motors Shipped to Russia Disguised as Deliveries to Kazakhstan and Turkey"
description: "Finland's customs authority has concluded its investigation into a €5.9 million scheme: two Finnish companies supplied Russia with pumps and motors, declaring them as cargo for Kazakhstan and Turkey. The case will be sent to the prosecutor's office by the end of 2026."
date: 2026-09-16T00:50:00.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/finland-sanctions-evasion-pumps-russia-en
tags: [finland, eu-sanctions, russia, customs, sanctions-evasion]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Finland Unveils €5.9 Million Scheme: Pumps and Motors Shipped to Russia Disguised as Deliveries to Kazakhstan and Turkey

![Barbed wire in front of the Russian flag: a symbol of the sanctions barriers being bypassed through re-export schemes to Russia](https://xab.info/media/2026/09/16/finland-sanctions-evasion-pumps-russia/finland-sanctions-evasion-pumps-russia-1.webp)

## 🎯 Key Points

- Finland's customs authority has concluded its investigation: two Finnish companies supplied Russia with industrial equipment worth approximately €5.9 million in 2022–2023.
- High-precision hydraulic pumps, electric motors, and valves (banned from direct export to Russia since July 2022) were declared as cargo for Kazakhstan and Turkey, but were actually shipped to Russia.
- Two suspects face charges under aggravated circumstances; the case will be handed over to the Eastern Finland District Prosecutor's Office by the end of 2026, and one suspect is already facing four similar cases in the South Karelia court.

Finland's customs authority has concluded its investigation into a large-scale scheme to circumvent EU sanctions against Russia. According to the investigation, between 2022 and 2023 two Finnish companies illegally supplied Russia with industrial equipment worth approximately 5.9 million euros. The case file is expected to be handed over to the Eastern Finland District Prosecutor's Office by the end of 2026 for the filing of formal charges.

### What Was Supplied and Where It Was Declared

The core of the illegal export consisted of high-precision hydraulic pumps, electric motors, and valves. Direct supplies of this equipment to Russia have been prohibited under EU regulations since July 2022 due to its potential use in the military and heavy industry. The exporting company officially declared to customs authorities that it was shipping the consignments to customers in Kazakhstan and Turkey, however, upon reviewing the accompanying documentation and carrying out operational measures, law enforcement officers established that the actual final destination of all the cargo was Russian territory.

### The Role of the Second Company and the Suspects

A second Finnish company was involved in carrying out the scheme, providing interim storage, re-documentation, and logistical support for the sanctioned goods. Currently, Finnish customs suspects two individuals of committing a crime under aggravated circumstances. One of the key suspects is already a defendant in four other criminal cases related to illegal export and violations of European sanctions, which are being heard by the South Karelia District Court.

### Context: Tightened Controls in the EU

Finland's authorities emphasize that the country will continue to firmly crack down on any attempts to use third countries to bypass trade restrictions. At the EU level, there is already discussion of transferring cases involving the circumvention of sanctions against Russia to a unified European Prosecutor's Office, which should increase pressure on companies and individuals helping Russia evade the restrictions. It is worth recalling that on July 23 the EU Council adopted the 21st package of sanctions against Russia — the largest in four years: it covered 218 individuals and organizations and hit Russia's banks, crypto platforms, "shadow fleet," and oil sector.

## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification

- [Finnish companies supplied pumps and motors to Russia via schemes involving Kazakhstan](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/finski-kompaniyi-postachali-nasosi-y-dviguni-1789513927.html) - Подтверждает суть схемы: насосы/двигатели, заявка на Казахстан, реальное назначение РФ.
- [From uranium to AI: Tokayev invites Finnish companies to Kazakhstan](https://tengrinews.kz/kazakhstan_news/ot-urana-do-ii-tokaev-priglasil-finskie-kompanii-v-kazahstan-584278/) - Контекстный источник: показывает финско-казахстанские деловые связи, но не описывает саму санкционную схему.
- [A hidden route through neighbors: Finland uncovers scheme to smuggle banned goods into Russia](https://www.pravda.ru/news/world/2409182-finland-sanctions-evasion/) - Подтверждает схему переправки запрещенных товаров через третьи страны в РФ.

## ❓ FAQ

### Q: What equipment was supplied to Russia under this scheme?
**A:** High-precision hydraulic pumps, electric motors, and valves — industrial goods banned from direct export to Russia under EU regulations since July 2022.

### Q: What was the value of the illegal export?
**A:** According to the investigation, approximately 5.9 million euros over 2022–2023.

### Q: What role did the second Finnish company play?
**A:** It provided interim storage, re-documentation, and logistical support for the sanctioned goods.

### Q: What is the current status of the case?
**A:** The investigation is complete, and two individuals are suspected under aggravated circumstances; the materials will be handed over to the Eastern Finland District Prosecutor's Office by the end of 2026. One suspect is already facing four similar cases in the South Karelia District Court.