{
  "id": 4022735,
  "title": "Russian online marketplace Ozon sold customers $290 million worth of military and dual-use goods over the past year",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/28/russian-online-marketplace-ozon-sold-customers-290-million-worth-of",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-28T19:24:40.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Insider",
    "slug": "the-insider",
    "url": "https://theins.press/en/news/296556"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In the past year, the Russian online marketplace Ozon facilitated the sale of over 2.13 million items that could potentially be used for military purposes, generating more than 25 billion rubles ($290 million) in revenue, according to independent outlet Verstka. Journalists identified four key categories of goods: military-tactical gear, optics, drones and their components, and firearm parts and accessories. Tactical gear, including body armor, ballistic helmets, tactical vests, protective plates, and neck and shoulder protection, accounted for the largest portion of sales, generating 9.14 billion rubles ($106.2 million) in revenue, or over 527,000 items. Body armor sales alone totaled 5.07 billion rubles ($58.9 million), with an average order value of 32,300 rubles ($375). Ballistic helmets generated 1.48 billion rubles ($17.2 million), and tactical vests and belts accounted for 1.2 billion rubles ($13.9 million). Military optics, such as collimator, digital, and thermal imaging sights, night vision devices, and thermal imagers, were ordered nearly 350,000 times, generating 7.22 billion rubles ($83.9 million) in revenue. Drones and related products, including frames, propellers, receivers, cameras, batteries, and fully assembled drones, were purchased for 6.26 billion rubles ($72.7 million). Small arms components and accessories were ordered for nearly 2.46 billion rubles ($28.5 million), with weapon grips as the most frequently purchased item. The data, sourced from Ozon’s internal analytics, may include items ultimately used for civilian purposes, and does not specify buyers or end recipients. Ozon has not commented on the findings. Recent aerial attacks on Ozon warehouses in Russia, which has a 34% ownership stake under Gennady Timchenko, highlight the potential risks associated with selling military and dual-use goods.",
  "summary": "From August 2025 through July 2026, users of the Russian online marketplace Ozon ordered more than 2.13 million items that could be used for military purposes, paying over 25 billion rubles ($290 million under the current exchange rate), the independent outlet Verstka reports , citing the marketplace’s internal analytics. Journalists identified 33 categories of goods with direct and potential…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Euromaidan Press",
        "title": "Russians bought $300 million in body armor, thermal sights, and drone parts on Ozon marketplace Ukraine is bombing",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/28/russians-bought-300-million-in-body-armor-thermal-sights-and-drone",
        "published": "2026-08-28T14:29:44.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Meduza (English)",
        "title": "Russians bought over 25 billion rubles ($290 million) in body armor, night-vision gear, and drone parts on the Ozon marketplace in a year, Verstka finds",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/28/russians-bought-over-25-billion-rubles-290-million-in-body-armor",
        "published": "2026-08-28T16:36:58.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}