Western sanctions have failed to choke Russia’s military production. In fact, according to a report by the U.K.’s Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) released on June 26, Russia’s production of key weapons such as cruise and ballistic missiles has actually increased.
The report says that, although the U.S. and its partners have touted an array of sanctions over the past two years to choke off Moscow’s access to key parts needed to build weapons, Russia has dramatically increased the production of artillery rounds, cruise missiles, ballistic missiles and drones since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, NBC News reported on June 26, referring to the RUSI report but not naming it. In 2021, Moscow produced 56 Kh-101 cruise missiles a year. By last year, it had manufactured 460 cruise missiles, according to the report. Russia’s stock of Iskander ballistic missiles also has increased dramatically, from about 50 before the invasion to 180, even though Russia has launched large numbers of the missiles on the battlefield, it said.
The expansion of Russia’s weapons production offers clear evidence that thousands of Western sanctions have proved ineffective, the report said. Then: “In summary, despite the diligent efforts of many civil servants, backed by the political will to disrupt Russia’s military–industrial output, there is little to show for it.”
