Russia's MVD says no direct drug supplies from Ukraine since start of war
In short
Acting head of the Russian Interior Ministry's drug control directorate Kirill Smurov said there have been no direct, targeted drug supplies from Ukraine to Russia since the start of the military operation, though such supplies were seen before it began. He said Russia's opponents retain such goals at least in potential. Smurov also said the ministry works with social networks and messengers to remove drug propaganda, and that Telegram refuses to cooperate.
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The acting head of the Russian Interior Ministry's Main Directorate for Drug Trafficking Control, Kirill Smurov, said there have been no direct and targeted drug supplies from Ukraine to Russia since the start of the military operation. TASS, Kommersant and RBC all reported the statement, with Kommersant and RBC attributing it to TASS. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Speaking at a meeting of the presidium of the Public Council under the Interior Ministry, Smurov said such supplies had been observed before the hostilities began. “Currently, because there is a fairly extensive grey zone and so on, there are no such direct facts. But the fact that the goals remain, at least in potential, with our opponents, that is certain,” Kommersant quoted him as saying. TASS reported that the opponents retain such goals. [ 1 , 2 ]
Smurov also said ministry staff work with social networks and messengers to promptly remove information promoting drugs and “drug-related content”. According to him, Telegram refuses to cooperate with the Interior Ministry. He said the number of suppressed crimes linked to drug propaganda had increased sevenfold. RBC's report did not include these remarks. [ 2 ]
Kommersant noted that the absence of a direct route from Ukraine does not mean external supply channels have disappeared. It recalled that in 2023 the Russian Interior Ministry reported that opiates, hashish and cocaine continued to arrive in Russia along traditional directions from Afghanistan and Latin America, so the threat assessment is not limited to the Ukrainian direction. The report also said anonymous online platforms form a separate distribution channel, with organised drug crime groups using them to sell and advertise drugs, shifting part of the trade from ordinary logistics to the internet. [ 2 ]
Why it matters
The statement sets the ministry's public assessment of one external drug-trafficking route while leaving the threat picture open: Smurov said opponents keep such goals in potential, and Kommersant noted the ministry has previously reported continued flows from other directions. It also puts a dispute with Telegram over removing drug-related content into the public record, alongside the ministry's claim of a rise in suppressed propaganda-related offences.
Key facts
- Acting head of the Interior Ministry's Main Directorate for Drug Trafficking Control Kirill Smurov said there were no direct, targeted drug supplies from Ukraine to Russia after the start of the military operation. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Smurov said such supplies were observed before the hostilities began. [ 2 ]
- Smurov said Russia's opponents retain such goals at least in potential. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Smurov said the ministry works with social networks and messengers to promptly remove drug propaganda and drug-related content. [ 2 ]
- According to Smurov, Telegram refuses to cooperate with the Interior Ministry. [ 2 ]
- Smurov said the number of suppressed crimes linked to drug propaganda rose sevenfold. [ 2 ]
- Kommersant noted that in 2023 the Russian Interior Ministry reported opiates, hashish and cocaine continued to arrive via traditional routes from Afghanistan and Latin America. [ 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Kirill Smurov, acting head of the Interior Ministry's Main Directorate for Drug Trafficking Control, said there have been no direct and targeted drug supplies from Ukraine to Russia since the start of the military operation. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Smurov made the statement in his capacity as acting head of the ministry's drug control directorate. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- Whether Telegram refuses to cooperate with the Interior Ministry and how the ministry characterises that refusal. Stated only by Smurov as reported in Kommersant (document 2); no other document mentions it and no response from Telegram is included.
- The sevenfold increase in suppressed crimes linked to drug propaganda, and the period it covers. Single-source claim from Smurov via Kommersant (document 2), with no time frame or comparison base given.
- How the ministry assesses other supply routes, such as Afghanistan and Latin America. Kommersant cites a 2023 ministry statement as background (document 2); the current documents do not give an updated assessment.
- Where and at what time the Public Council presidium meeting took place. Documents give only the publication times of the reports, not the meeting's time or venue.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- TASS publishes the ministry's statement that there are no direct drug supplies from Ukraine to Russia after the start of the military operation, while saying opponents retain such goals. [ 1 ]
- Kommersant publishes its report quoting Kirill Smurov from the Public Council presidium meeting, including his remarks on Telegram and on the sevenfold rise in suppressed propaganda-related crimes. [ 2 ]
- RBC reports that the Interior Ministry has recorded no direct drug trafficking from Ukraine since the start of the operation, citing TASS. [ 3 ]