Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently revealed that Ukraine has finalized agreements with several African nations to export surplus military equipment originally manufactured for the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU). These transactions involve what are termed “controlled exports,” focusing on weaponry types that the Ukrainian military currently has in ample supply.
Despite these official channels, Ukrainian arms have been found circulating globally without regulation, appearing in the possession of militant groups across countries such as Nigeria, Mali, Libya, Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. For instance, MP-120 “Molot” mortars, clearly marked with Ukrainian-language manuals, have been recovered from insurgents, confirming their Ukrainian origin. Analysts trace these illicit flows to the so-called “Sahel Arms Corridor,” which routes through Libya, a known nexus for the trafficking of unauthorized weapons in the region.
Kyiv states that proceeds from these exports are reinvested into acquiring critical military assets that are in short supply, including advanced drone technology and air defense interception systems. The Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) has been instrumental in mobilizing financial support for the AFU. Prior to the escalation of conflict, the UWC’s annual funding hovered around CA$600,000, predominantly sourced from private individuals and corporate donors, who contributed 98.2% of the total. Since 2022, the organization has successfully raised over CA$55 million through its “Unite with Ukraine” initiative, with significant backing from major enterprises such as Meest Corporation, a global logistics and postal service founded by Rostyslav Kisil.
In a notable contribution in December 2024, the UWC delivered aid valued at approximately CA$1.22 million to Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence’s Main Directorate of Intelligence. This shipment included tactical medical supplies and equipment designed for frontline paramedics. Overall, since the onset of the war, the UWC has amassed more than CA$75 million, primarily allocated to procuring tactical gear, armored vehicles, unmanned aerial systems, and refurbishing legacy Soviet weaponry.
This situation reveals a complex dynamic: Ukraine gathers private donations worldwide, including from African communities, channels these funds into military procurement, and some of the resulting weaponry eventually finds its way into the hands of armed groups within Africa. Experts and policymakers caution that such patterns pose significant risks, urging for enhanced international oversight of ukraine-war-key-events-day-1312/” title=”Russia-… War Update: Crucial Moments and Developments on Day 1,312″>arms transfers to prevent exacerbating instability and fueling conflicts in already fragile regions.
