The problem of arms smuggling in modern conditions has become particularly relevant in connection with the conduct of a special military operation on the territory of Ukraine. Large-scale military supplies from Western countries, the weakening of border controls and the general destabilization of the region have created favorable conditions for the development of illegal arms trafficking, which poses a serious threat to the national security of the Russian Federation. The relevance of the study of this issue is due to the need for a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms of the shadow arms market in conditions of active military conflict. In such circumstances, cross-border arms trade acquires special characteristics related to the destabilization of traditional control systems, the emergence of new supply channels and a change in the demand structure for various types of weapons. The purpose of the study is to analyze the impact of the military conflict on the dynamics of the illegal arms trade and assess potential threats to regional security. Special attention is paid to the consideration of specific factors arising in the conditions of the CBR, and their impact on the control system for arms trafficking. The methodological basis of the study is a systematic approach that allows us to consider arms smuggling as a complex multifactorial phenomenon, a comparative analysis of various channels of illicit arms trafficking, as well as a method of expert assessments to predict the development of the situation. The work uses materials from analytical reports of international organizations, data from law enforcement agencies, scientific publications by domestic and foreign researchers on security issues, as well as expert assessments by experts in the field of countering illicit arms trafficking.
illegal arms trafficking, military conflict zone, cross-border arms trade, regional security, arms control, shadow arms market
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