The ‘monster’ behind Russia’s global effort to evade Western sanctions

Aaron KrolikNew York Times·2 Oct, 2026 12:16 AM15 mins to readA currency exchange board in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. Shell companies created by a Moscow firm, A7, used transactions in Kyrgyzstan to help Russian businesses evade sanctions. Photo / Sergey Ponomarev, The New York TimesThe cover story was simple.The Trading Co. of the Kyrgyz Republic, an official government entity, was paying US$1 million ($1.7m) for a bulk shipment of car floor mats, auto body polish, safety glasses and rope. In reality, the money was for the kind of drone parts that have helped