Research Institute: Russia was Ukraine's largest buyer of military goods in 2016
Russia became the largest purchaser of Ukrainian military goods, according to the findings of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
According to SIPRI’s data, last year Ukraine exported $169 million worth of military goods to Russia. Shipments to Russia grew by 72% during the year.
Among Ukraine’s top buyers were China and also Thailand – the only buyer of modern “Oplot” tanks, listed among the best tanks in the world.
Altogether, shipments to Russia grew by 72% for the year. Moreover, they were higher than during the time of president Viktor Yanukovych.
SIPRI’s report attests that the biggest Russian partner in Ukraine today is Vyacheslav Boguslayev’s “Motor Sich”. The company belonging to the Zaporozhian businessman, ex-regional and now MP from “Volya Naroda”, is fulfilling a contract for the shipment of AI-222 engines. According to SIPRI’s data, Motor Sich’s contract with the Russian Sokol Aircraft Factory, which builds “Yaks”, entails a shipment of 218 engines.
The Ukrainian aviation motors are supposedly to be installed in Russian light attack aircraft, which are used to train military pilots, including for attacking ground targets.
As reported in December, Ukraine was one of the ten biggest arms suppliers in the world. In SIPRI’s rating, Ukraine took the 9th place.