Western Military Aid for Ukraine Appear on Shadow Market for Dirt Cheap Prices

The military aid provided by many western countries to support the Ukrainian forces have made their way into the hands of shadow market arms dealers.

Weapons ranging from handguns to anti-tank missiles have been advertised on the "black market" in the Internet space at cut-rate prices. These weapons are now reportedly being sold by criminal cartels and “private traders.”

A militant in Syria was quoted as saying by Russian government-owned Zvezda that his group received an anti-tank missile system for just $15,000. “We bought this at a very good price. Here I have an anti-tank guided missile (ATGM), mines and rifles,” the militant said.

The U.S. (Javelin), the U.K., France (MILAN), Norway (M72), Poland, Estonia and several other countries have transferred anti-tank missiles and launchers to Kyiv. American Javelins are being sold at $30,000, the report claimed.

Ads on the “darkweb” have a lot of offers on weapons- a Kalashnikov assault rifle can be purchased for as little as $550. Slovenia and Greece are among countries that sent Kalashnikov rifles to Ukraine.

A user from Kyiv is selling two Glock pistols for $600 each with free shipping across Germany.

“The possibility of control by the West of the supplied weapons and the correct use from their point of view has already been completely lost. Why? Because there are several points, including points of transshipment, redistribution, which are currently hidden from the public and are not subject to disclosure,” said military expert, reserve colonel Roman Nasonov.

Washington has pledged weapons worth nearly $4 billion. How much of that actually ended up in Ukraine is the burning question? It may have ended up in the wrong hands, considering the sheer volume.

“More than 50 million rounds of ammunition - all this ammunition will be used not only against Russia. In the end, they will be misused, whether intentionally or not,” Jordan Cohen, defense and foreign policy analyst told on CNN.

The head of Interpol, Jurgen Stock, has called for a thorough verification of arms supplies to Kyiv.

“Criminal gangs will try to make the most of the current situation. Even the heavy weapons used by the military will be available on the criminal market. The criminals I am talking about operate on different continents, so the exchange and sale of weapons will be carried out all over the world,” the official said in a statement.

While the modern military aid is being found on the black market, military personnel of the territorial defense and the Armed Forces of Ukraine are reportedly forced to fight with age old weapons.