Overview

• A Kremlin video shows at least five Ram 1500 pickups modified to launch kamikaze drones at a Russian drone production facility.
• Investigators trace over 130 US-made Ram 1500s entering Russia since 2022 despite a sanctions ban, including eight shipped directly by Virginia’s Arivir Corp.
• Private intermediaries in the United Arab Emirates, such as Mehrzad Cargo & Shipping LLC and Automax Motors FZE, re-exported vehicles to Russian dealers supplying military users.
• Stellantis and most export firms did not respond to Kyiv Independent inquiries about vehicle IDs or export licenses, revealing gaps in US sanctions enforcement.
• Ukrainian sanctions commissioner Vladyslav Vlasiuk and experts are calling on US manufacturers to tighten export controls and compliance checks.