Volunteer 'Economic Fighters' Shape Sanctions Against Russia's War Machine
In August 2022, Olena Yurchenko, a 22-year-old Ukrainian analyst forced to flee to Latvia after Russian strikes, made a pivotal discovery on a Russian-language forum. It involved computer numerical control (CNC) machine tools, essential for precision manufacturing of military components like tank hulls and missile casings. Russia, she found, does not produce CNC machines and relies heavily on imports.
After over a year of investigation and advocacy, her work led the EU and Biden administration to add CNC machines to sanctions lists. This resulted in a 2025 fine against US manufacturer Haas Automation. While sanctions haven't halted Russia's military production, they've forced costly workarounds.
"Russians used to buy 70% of CNC machines from the West. Now, 80% come from China, but these are lower quality, like one-time razors," said Yurchenko. Russia also attempts smuggling through Belarus and Central Asia.
A Global Coalition of Volunteers
More than in any prior conflict, civil society groups and international volunteers are shaping US and European efforts to support Ukraine. Since Russia's full-scale invasion, over three dozen sanctions rounds have targeted thousands of entities, from defense firms to plastic makers. Many precise actions stem not from officials but from a worldwide network of volunteers dedicated to uncovering what Russia needs to sustain its war.
Key players include Ukraine's "economic fighters," such as the Economic Security Council of Ukraine (ESCU), with eight analysts coordinating loosely with the government. This coalition includes Americans, Europeans, and even Russians, mapping supply chains from Arctic barges built in Singapore to chromium mined in Kazakhstan.
"We have done 19 sanctions packages so far, often inspired by what Ukrainian civil society uncovered," said Simon Kjeldsen, Denmark's sanctions coordinator. Civil society groups bring energy and investigative depth to niche areas like energy or banking violations, aiding overworked government offices.
Targeting Critical Weaknesses
Sanctions haven't ended the war or crippled Russia's industry, but they've eroded capacities. The EU's sanctions envoy recently called Russia's efforts "unsustainable" due to economic distortions. "Sanctions are like little cuts. If you have a lot, you can stop Russia," said Ilona Khmeleva, ESCU secretary.
Andrew Fink, a former US defense contractor, discovered in 2021 that Russia's corvettes used Chinese copies of German engines, highlighting its hollowed-out industrial base. In 2023, he found Russia imports vast quantities of mechanical lubricant additives, critical for motor oil in mechanized warfare, from few global producers.
Fink's tip led to a pressure campaign by the anti-corruption group DeKleptocracy. "The level of CNC smuggling shows how badly Russia needs Western technology," said Kristofer Harrison, its head. In 2024, ESCU convinced the EU to restrict chromium exports, used for artillery barrels, while DeKleptocracy helped sanction Arctic vessels for Russia's LNG project, slowing it for years.
A Lasting Legacy
Officials like Laura Cooper, a former US defense official, note this coordination may outlast the conflict. "This new approach harnesses global outrage to hold Russia accountable," she said. Denmark has launched an initiative with the Kyiv School of Economics, including a "sanctions hub of excellence," signaling a long-term focus on economic resilience.
Volunteers' efforts have transformed economic warfare, proving that grassroots activism can directly influence international policy and complicate Russia's war machine through targeted, data-driven sanctions.
