More than $30 million worth of aircraft tires from Western manufacturers, including France’s Michelin and Britain’s Dunlop, were imported into Russia last year through intermediaries, despite international sanctions aimed at halting such trade, according to a Ukrainian government agency.

Russian aviation relies heavily on foreign-made tires, and customs data shows that the vast majority of those imported in 2023 came from companies based in France, Britain, the U.S., and Japan. Following President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, the U.S. and the European Union imposed bans on the sale of aviation tires to Russia in early 2022. The U.K. introduced similar restrictions in December 2023, with Japan following suit in July. However, customs records reveal widespread and successful efforts to circumvent these controls.

Michelin accounted for the largest share of tire imports into Russia last year, comprising 70% of the total, valued at $28 million. Among the imports were tires designed for aircraft used by Russia’s foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov. Tires from Goodyear (U.S.), Dunlop (U.K.), and Bridgestone (Japan) also made their way into the country.

An internal report from Ukraine's National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NACP), reviewed by The Guardian, indicates that most of these Western-made tires entered Russia through third-party countries, including China, Turkey, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and several Central Asian nations. The report also uncovered evidence of direct shipments from the West, facilitated by companies registered in third countries, which, according to the NACP, may suggest the use of deceptive transit schemes or a change of destination mid-transit.

There is no indication that Michelin, Goodyear, Dunlop, or Bridgestone engaged in any wrongdoing. A Michelin spokesperson confirmed that the company had initiated an investigation into the matter.