According to the U.S. Associated Press agency the Swiss government banned the export of military equipment to a Polish recipient. The decision was motivated by claims that allegedly 645,000 pieces of Swiss-made small-calibre ammunition were given to Ukraine. Such practice was considered “a violation of Swiss law”.

Bern authorities launched an investigation after a report by the U.S. news service, Defence One, last November that indicated Ukraine had received rifle cartridges with anti-tank missiles made by SwissP Defence. The ammunition was supplied by the Polish importer, UMO.

“The investigation revealed that the Swiss manufacturer and the Polish company had signed a sales agreement, which stated that the Polish company had the right to sell Swiss ammunition exclusively in Poland,” – The Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, SECO, told AP.

As AP reported, the investigation found that the Polish company “did not keep its contractual obligations” to the Swiss manufacturer, as the ammunition was sold to Ukraine without its consent.

According to SECO, exports to the Polish company will be banned because “the risk of diversion (of ammunition) to Ukraine is assessed as too high.” 

AP notes, however, that Switzerland has supported the European Union’s economic sanctions against Russia. This came after the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 14, 2022.

Source: PAP

Photo: @visegrad24

Tomasz Modrzejewski