Russia is allegedly using a “shadow mail” postal system based in Berlin to bypass EU sanctions, routing banned goods to Moscow through international mail channels that face lighter customs controls, according to a German media investigation.

Axar.az, citing Euro News, reports that test shipments containing sanctioned items reportedly passed through a logistics hub near Berlin Brandenburg Airport before being sent via Poland and Belarus to Russia.

The scheme is said to rely on shipping labels from Uzbekistan’s state postal service, which is not authorised to operate in Germany. International mail benefits from simplified customs procedures, allowing sanctioned goods to move with minimal scrutiny. German authorities previously searched the offices of a company linked to the operation, but the probe yielded no results.

Ukraine’s sanctions envoy Vladyslav Vlasiuk said the findings were unsurprising and called for stronger enforcement, warning that loopholes remain widespread. He also highlighted Russia’s continued use of its shadow fleet to evade oil sanctions, noting that despite EU measures against hundreds of vessels, most remain active. EU states have since warned they may treat ships sailing under false or multiple flags as stateless to tighten enforcement.