Now available - watch the webinar launching new research on Russia’s use of illicit finance and economic crime in occupied Ukraine

14 May saw lead researcher Olivia Allison (University of Exeter/RUSI) and Tom Keatinge, Director of the Centre for Finance and Security at RUSI, discuss Olivia’s new, co-authored paper Looting Mariupol: Russia’s use of illicit finance and economic crime in occupied Ukraine, launched the same day. Olivia and Tom discuss how Russia is attempting to turn Mariupol into a showcase Russian city to legitimise its occupation of Ukrainian territory, including how a huge reconstruction programme is aiming to place Mariupol at the centre of a new transport network that will ensure the resupply of Russian forces on the frontline and in Crimea. This programme of investment in Mariupol, which has been accompanied by the illicit seizure of thousands of Ukrainian homes, businesses and assets, has been accompanied by widespread allegations of corruption, fraud and profiteering, and with new Russian business networks emerging that benefit from Russia’s wartime economy. These economic practices in many cases constitute criminal activities and may be potential war crimes. Olivia and Tom discuss the human dynamics and draw out possible policy implications for consideration.

Watch the webinar recording here and find the full research paper here, as well as past papers and other publications from the associated research project’s webpage Illicit finance and Russian foreign policy: New dynamics and linkages.