Conflict Armament Research has published report, which reported that separatists in eastern Ukraine are using weapons made in Russia. This testifies to the well-established supply, they write the report. The researchers examined dozens of rifles, anti-aircraft guns, grenade launchers, military vehicles, as well as nearly 4,800 rounds of ammunition, checked the serial numbers and came to the conclusion that the weapons were of Russian origin.

The authors argue that the weapons could only have come from Russian military depots. It is currently noted that they are composed of mismatched serial numbers. At the same time, the “Donbass” weapon consists of parts with the same numbers, which may mean direct deliveries.

The data obtained after examining the cartridges indicate that they were manufactured in the territory of modern Russia from 1948 to the present. The Russian authorities and arms manufacturers did not respond to inquiries from the authors of the study.

To date, this study is one of the most comprehensive on the subject. writes New York Times. It provides a detailed view of the illegal arms trade in Ukraine and shows the scale of the arms trade that is fueling the only active war in Europe.

Since 2014, Russia has denied its participation in the conflict in Donbass and the supply of weapons to the separatists. In particular, the Kremlin denies the transfer of the Tugsir anti-aircraft missile system, which shot down a Malaysian Airlines MH-17 passenger plane in July 2014.