Like in the Middle Ages: Russia switched to barter trade to avoid sanctions

Russia has been forced to resort to barter trade to obtain sanctioned goods from partners. Moscow exchanges grain, flaxseed and other products for cars, building materials and even Western technology, bypassing international restrictions.

This is reported by Reuters .

According to journalists, despite strategic ties with China and India, traditional financial channels for Russia are narrowing due to partners’ fear of secondary sanctions. In particular, Chinese banks do not accept Russian payments, which forced the Russian Ministry of Economy to develop a “Manual on Foreign Barter Operations” back in 2024. It advised businesses on how to avoid financial risks through the exchange of goods.

At least eight major barter deals have reportedly been recorded, including the exchange of Chinese cars for Russian wheat, flaxseed for construction materials and machinery, and steel and aluminum for ship engines. Such transactions involve China, Pakistan, and other countries.

The Russian customs service confirmed the facts of the barter, without specifying its scale. At the same time, analysts calculated that in the first half of 2025 alone, the difference between official data from the Central Bank of the Russian Federation and customs reports reached $7 billion, which may indicate the growth of shadow exchange schemes.

Experts believe that the spread of barter is an indicator of de-dollarization and deep liquidity problems in the Russian economy.

“The growth of barter is a symptom of the pressure of sanctions and problems with cash flows among partners,” Maxim Spassky, secretary of the General Council of the Russian-Asian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, told Reuters.

In addition to barter, Russian companies use “payment agents,” cryptocurrencies, and cash payments. And the state-owned VTB bank, through its Shanghai branch, even offers special schemes to circumvent restrictions.

Recall that Chinese companies are secretly supplying Russia with components for the production of drones , despite international sanctions. In 2023-2024 alone, Russian firms received parts worth at least $63 million. This allows Moscow to deploy large-scale production of drones, which are used daily for terror against Ukraine.

До слова, головне управління розвідки України повідомило, що завдяки співпраці з китайськими компаніями Росія отримує критично важливі ресурси для військової промисловості . Йдеться про спецхімію для виготовлення вибухових речовин, електронні компоненти та верстати, які безпосередньо використовуються у виробництві зброї та військової техніки.

Раніше в ЗМІ стало відомо, що Китай проти завершення війни Росії з Україною, адже конфлікт виснажує РФ та США , водночас створюючи стратегічні переваги для Пекіна.

Як відомо, Китай продовжує активно підтримувати Російську Федерацію . Хоча прямих постачань озброєння немає, КНР забезпечує товари подвійного призначення, які використовуються у виробництві російських безпілотників, зокрема устаткування, деталі та станки.

Also follow “Pryamim” on Facebook , Twitter , Telegram , and Instagram.