According to Eurostat data collected by Bloomberg in the first eight months of this year Armenia It imported more washing machines from the EU than in the past two years combined. Kazakhstan Imported European refrigerators worth $21.4 million. By August, it was three times more than the same period last year.
EU exports of electric breast pumps to Armenia nearly tripled in the first half of 2022. Compared to the previous year, although the birth rate in Armenia decreased by 4.3%. Similarly, Kazakhstan’s demand for breast pumps in the European Union increased by 633 percent. In the first half of 2022, though, the national birth rate declined by 8.4% over the same period.
Kazakh government data shows an increase in the number of refrigerators, washing machines and electric breast pumps sent to Russia.
Some Eurasian countries’ trade with Russia may simply fill the gaps in imports from other countries. Russian companies can also disassemble devices and use components and semiconductors in civilian production.
However, European officials familiar with the numbers say they are concerned about at least some of the goods and their components that might find use in the military.They are closely following the increase in exports to countries on Russia’s periphery, writes Bloomberg.
Officials in Europe have already publicly stated that they have seen parts of refrigerators and washing machines in Russian military equipment since the invasion of Ukraine. People cited by the agency stated that it is very likely that components and microchips from other household appliances will also be used for military purposes, especially in relatively low-quality equipment.
The Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine imposed sanctions on Russia and denied it imports, including the chips and other components it had long relied on for essential military equipment.
