GRU operative’s family in Brussels helping Russia dodge sanctions - media

Brussels-based Russian national Viktor Labin, affiliated with the Russian defense ministry and intelligence, provides the Russian defense industry with coordinate-measuring machines that are critical in certain arms production, successfully avoiding European sanctions.

That’s according to an investigation by The Insider, seen by Ukrinform.

The man has lived in Belgium since at least 2000 and now owns the company named Groupe d'Investissement Financier.

While GRU officers do not publicly advertise their professional affiliations, all of the available information regarding Viktor Labin’s background indicates a close connection with Russia’s military intelligence arm. According to address databases, Viktor Labin was formerly registered in Moscow at the renowned dormitory of the GRU academy.

One of Labin’s sons helps him run the business, while the other stands behind pro-Kremlin rallies across Europe. Ruslan Labin is the owner of Moscow-based Sonatek, which provides machine tools to dozens of Russian defense firms.

In 2022, Sonatek provided supply and maintenance services to a minimum of 18 Russian defense companies.

Labin uses his company Groupe d’Investissement Financier for deliveries to Russia. He would previously send products directly, but in April 2023 he employed a Turkey-based shell company for these purposes. It is recalled that Turkey has become a prominent transshipment point for sanctioned goods being smuggled into Russia.

Earlier it was reported that Belgium would be the first EU member state to transfer to Ukraine all interest derived from immobilized Russian assets. It has dedicated EUR 611 million in Ukraine aid for 2024. All the funds were derived from interest on Russian assets, which have been frozen as part of the EU sanctions package targeting Russia. A Belgium-based company, Euroclear, manages EUR 180 billion worth of immobilized Russian assets, generating significant profits.