The European arms manufacturer Beretta Holding continues to supply firearms to Russia while circumventing sanctions. Investigation by The Insider revealed large-scale imports of European weapons by Russian security forces between March 2022 and February 2024, totaling at least 15,337 Western weapons. Around 40% (6,064 firearms) were made by Beretta Holding subsidiaries, including Benelli Armi, Fabbrica D’Armi Pietro Beretta, Beretta Benelli Iberica, Sako Limited, and Stoeger Silah Sanayi. Beretta Holding CEO Pietro Gussagli Beretta served on the board of Russian importer Russian Eagle LLC in 2022. Russian Ministry of Defense and Federal Security Service have used Italian Benelli semi-automatic shotguns and Finnish Sako and Tikka rifles for defense against Ukrainian FPV drone attacks and competitions. Shipments continued into 2026 via Beretta's contractors, with Kolchuga LLC receiving Benelli Argo-E carbines in March 2026. The US sanctioned Russky Orel LLC in June 2024 and prosecuted intermediaries involved in arms smuggling. Italian authorities have not launched official investigations, with political leadership avoiding deeper inquiry during a February 2026 Security Committee hearing. Beretta executives denied large-scale smuggling, claiming only 15 hunting rifles had been shipped. Beretta Holding also alleged the certificates of conformity might relate to counterfeit goods.

The European arms manufacturer Beretta Holding continues to supply firearms to Russia while circumventing sanctions. Investigation by The Insider revealed large-scale imports of European weapons by Russian security forces between March 2022 and February 2024, totaling at least 15,337 Western weapons. Around 40% (6,064 firearms) were made by Beretta Holding subsidiaries, including Benelli Armi, Fabbrica D’Armi Pietro Beretta, Beretta Benelli Iberica, Sako Limited, and Stoeger Silah Sanayi. Beretta Holding CEO Pietro Gussagli Beretta served on the board of Russian importer Russian Eagle LLC in 2022. Russian Ministry of Defense and Federal Security Service have used Italian Benelli semi-automatic shotguns and Finnish Sako and Tikka rifles for defense against Ukrainian FPV drone attacks and competitions. Shipments continued into 2026 via Beretta's contractors, with Kolchuga LLC receiving Benelli Argo-E carbines in March 2026. The US sanctioned Russky Orel LLC in June 2024 and prosecuted intermediaries involved in arms smuggling. Italian authorities have not launched official investigations, with political leadership avoiding deeper inquiry during a February 2026 Security Committee hearing. Beretta executives denied large-scale smuggling, claiming only 15 hunting rifles had been shipped. Beretta Holding also alleged the certificates of conformity might relate to counterfeit goods.