German Engines Installed on FSB Boats in Circumvention of Sanctions

Russia continues to obtain critical naval equipment from Europe and the United States through complex networks of intermediaries.

An investigation by the Dossier Center and Süddeutsche Zeitung uncovered this information.

This primarily concerns engines and other components necessary for the construction of military and special-purpose vessels.

One key example involves marine engines from the German company MAN, which were formally supplied to Turkey for yacht construction at the Vicem Yachts shipyard. According to the documents, the products were supposed to remain in Turkey and not be re-exported to Russia.

According to journalists’ sources, some of these engines were not actually used on Turkish yachts. After delivery to Turkey, they were redirected via intermediaries to Russia, where they ended up at shipbuilding enterprises.

According to investigators, the final recipient of the engines was the Almaz shipbuilding firm in St. Petersburg. There, the equipment is installed on patrol boats of the Sobol project, which are used by the Russian FSB’s border service.

Supply chain

The supply chain involves companies in Turkey, Hong Kong, and other jurisdictions. Formally, shipments may be destined for third countries, but the actual route is much harder to trace due to a multi-tiered system of intermediaries.

According to the investigation, the St. Petersburg-based company TPO Kronstadt plays a key role in these operations. It is one of the main suppliers of equipment to Russian shipbuilding enterprises and industrial companies.

Financial documents show that billions of rubles passed through Kronstadt’s accounts in 2024–2025. Payments were made to companies in Turkey, China, Hong Kong, the UAE, Thailand, and other countries.

Journalists draw particular attention to the Turkish company Malpina Yazilim, which acted as a payment agent. Payments for equipment of European and American origin that entered Russia by circumventing direct restrictions passed through it.

Similar mechanisms were also used to supply engines from the American manufacturer Caterpillar. In this case, a Chinese company acted as an intermediary through which the equipment was delivered to Russian customers in the extractive industry.

The Russian shipbuilding industry remains highly dependent on Western technologies. Many ship designs were originally created for specific models of foreign engines and systems, the replacement of which would require significant time and cost.

In addition to the supplies themselves, equipment maintenance is a key consideration. According to industry sources, commissioning modern marine engines often requires the involvement of manufacturer representatives or certified specialists who have access to specialized software.