{"id":206243,"date":"2026-10-05T15:23:30","date_gmt":"2026-10-05T12:23:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/206243\/"},"modified":"2026-10-05T15:23:33","modified_gmt":"2026-10-05T12:23:33","slug":"mzkt-continues-cooperating-with-russias-defense-industry-belpol-says","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/206243\/","title":{"rendered":"MZKT continues cooperating with Russia\u2019s defense industry, BelPol says"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n\n \"\"\n
\n \n
\n (MZKT website)<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

October 5, Pozirk<\/em>. <\/strong>Minsk Wheeled Tractor Plant (MZKT) continues to cooperate with Russia\u2019s defense industry companies, according to documents published on October 5 by BelPol, an exiled Belarusian investigative group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

BelPol says<\/a> that MZKT has signed a contract with Moscow\u2011based Oboronitelnyye Sistemy on the supply of 20 MZKT\u20118021\u2011021, five MZKT\u20118022\u2011021 and five MZKT\u201180211\u2011021 platforms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe contract was concluded amid sweeping international sanctions against MZKT,\u201d the group says. \u201cThe company is under restrictions imposed by the EU, Ukraine, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Australia, and New Zealand for supporting Russia\u2019s aggression against Ukraine and participating in the missile programs of other states.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to BelPol, the specialized MZKT\u20118021\/8022 chassis series was developed to host components of the Pechora\u20112M surface\u2011to\u2011air missile system. These chassis have also been used for air defense systems and radar stations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

BelPol says that amid shortages of air defense assets, returning to Soviet\u2011era systems \u201cmay make practical sense,\u201d as existing stockpiles of suitable munitions could make their modernization and operation attractive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The fact that the contract is expected to last until 2029 indicates that this is \u201cnot a one\u2011off purchase but the systematic sale of specialized platforms to the Russian customer, BelPol says, concluding that \u201cthe aggressor has no intention of ending the war.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At a forum in Vilnius this past May, BelPol\u2019s leader U\u0142adzimir \u017dyhar argued for tougher sanctions on the Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka regime. \u017dyhar told Pozirk<\/em> the EU is not doing enough to track and punish dozens of front companies used by sanctioned entities to circumvent sanctions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

BelPol specializes in gathering intelligence on Belarus\u2019 role in supporting Russia\u2019s war machine and companies and individuals that circumvent EU sanctions. He pointed out that BelPol has volumes of evidence against culprits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Belarusian authorities support Russia in the full-scale war against Ukraine launched by Moscow in February 2022. Hundreds of Belarusian industrial companies are reportedly manufacturing and supplying goods for Russia\u2019s war effort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The European Union included Minsk Wheeled Tractor Plant in its 17th package<\/a> of sanctions on Russia adopted in May 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the Official Journal of the EU, MZKT has supplied the Russian Armed Forces with military vehicles, supporting Russia\u2019s defense capability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2024 alone, the company reportedly exported 306 railcars worth of military equipment, mainly to Russian military-industrial enterprises.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The MZKT specializes in manufacturing heavy-duty wheeled vehicles of high cross-country ability, including transporter erector launcher vehicles for Russian missile systems. The company has been under separate EU sanctions since December 2020 for its alleged involvement in human rights violations in Belarus.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n
\n \"\"
\n

BelPol flags another Russian-linked Belarusian defense company not subject to sanctions<\/h3>\n
September 7, Pozirk. BelPol, an exiled Belarusian investigative group, has identified another Belarusian company working for Russia\u2019s military industry without being subject to sanctions. NPP Contactmodule, a research and development enterprise based in Minsk, \u201chas been unfairly overlooked by organizations …<\/div>\n \n