In brief

• Swiss newspaper NZZ found Russia registered two shipments of Ruag Ammotec sniper ammunition totalling 110,000 rounds after the 2022 invasion.
• The cartridges reportedly reached Russia via Slovenia and Kyrgyzstan despite a Swiss export ban in place since 2014.
• The Insider had earlier reported the same manufacturer's rounds being imported by a Russian gunmaker.

Two shipments registered in Russia

Russian registration records show two large consignments of ammunition made by Ruag Ammotec AG, based in Thun, Switzerland, after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The first batch, of 60,000 rounds, was registered on 30 December 2022. The second, of 50,000 rounds, was registered on 5 April 2023 (Швейцарські патрони для снайперів потрапили до Росії: в NZZ з'ясували, як це відбулося – UNIAN) (Расія ў абыход санкцый атрымала 110 тысяч швейцарскіх снайперскіх патронаў – Nasza Niwa) (Vom Berner Oberland nach Moskau: Wie Schweizer Munition illegal nach Russland gelangt – nzz.ch).

Circumventing a long-standing ban

Swiss law has barred arms sales to Russia since 2014, when Moscow annexed Crimea. According to the reports, the cartridges reached Russia through intermediaries in Slovenia and Kyrgyzstan, and Russian importers declared them as intended for civilian use (Россия получила 110 тысяч швейцарских снайперских патронов в обход санкций — NZZ. О поставках того же производителя ранее писал The Insider – The Insider). Swiss authorities say the calibres listed are used mainly by snipers, and the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), which oversees export controls, confirmed to NZZ that the ammunition is military-grade.

Ownership change and earlier reporting

The Thun plant belonged to the Swiss state-owned defence group Ruag until summer 2022. It was then bought by the Italian firearms group Beretta. The Insider reported in October 2025 that the same manufacturer's rounds had been imported by a Russian gunmaker, Varyag, which brings in Western sniper rifles.

Context for readers

The Swiss ban is a national measure, and the investigation shows how controlled military goods can still reach a sanctioned buyer through third countries. The NZZ findings are based on the registration data cited by the newspaper; the reports do not say how many of these rounds have been used on the front.