Kathrine Frich
Russia is boasting about unprecedented foreign demand for its weapons, but behind the numbers lies a growing problem.
As the war in Ukraine grinds on, Moscow is struggling to balance export ambitions with the needs of its own battlefield.
Officials now openly admit that foreign customers are being forced to wait.
Record demand claimed
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov said global interest in Russian weapons has reached a historic peak, according to Agerpres, during a Kremlin meeting with President Vladimir Putin.
“Until 2022, the maximum value of orders was $55 billion. Today, with $70 billion in contracts already signed, we have a record,” Manturov said.
He linked the surge in demand to the war in Ukraine, arguing that Russian equipment had proven itself in real combat.
Tested in war
Manturov said foreign buyers were drawn by weapons that had been used on the battlefield.
He claimed that “the technology tested under the conditions of the special military operation advertised itself,” using Moscow’s official term for the invasion.
According to the Russian official, systems such as air defence platforms, fighter jets and multiple rocket launchers are in particularly high demand on international markets.
However, analysts note that the same systems are also critical to Russia’s own war effort.
Supplies stretched thin
Despite the record order book, Manturov acknowledged that Russia is struggling to deliver on its promises.
He admitted that the military’s needs in Ukraine are limiting export capacity.
As a result, deliveries of weapons and ammunition to foreign customers are being delayed.
The admission highlights a key contradiction in Russia’s arms strategy: while Moscow is eager to present itself as a reliable global supplier, the war is consuming vast quantities of equipment and munitions.
Buyers left waiting
Russia remains one of the world’s largest arms exporters, but sanctions and the prolonged conflict have already complicated production and logistics.
Now, even Russian officials concede that priority is being given to the front lines over export contracts.
For countries that rely on Russian weapons, the delays raise questions about how dependable Moscow can be as a supplier while fighting a large-scale war.
Sources: Agerpres, HotNews.ro
