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Ukraine-bound arms ending up on black market, surfacing in Syria, says Russian envoy

Konstantin Gavrilov pointed out that the Europeans failed to grasp that they are playing with fire

MOSCOW, June 9. /TASS/. Military hardware originally supplied to Ukraine has already surfaced on the black market and is being re-routed to the Middle East, and to Idlib in Syria, in particular, Russia’s chief delegate to the military security and arms control negotiations in Vienna, Konstantin Gavrilov, revealed when speaking to the Rossiya-24 TV news channel Thursday.

"The danger of small arms and other light weapons, especially Javelins, MANPADS and anti-tank weapons proliferating beyond the current conflict zones does exist. There has been evidence that these weapons have already surfaced on the black market and are being shipped to the Middle East, and to Idlib, in particular. We've already seen the footage," he said.

Gavrilov pointed out that the Europeans failed to grasp that they are playing with fire.

"After all, it can be used for terrorist purposes. Nevertheless, the deliveries continue," the diplomat noted.

On February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a special military operation in response to a request from the leaders of the two Donbass republics for help. After that, the US, the EU and the UK, as well as a number of other countries imposed sweeping sanctions against Russia and increased weapons supplies to the Kiev regime.