President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made an urgent appeal to international partners to dismantle the global networks that provide raw materials to Russia’s military industry, shortly before a devastating overnight assault on Kyiv forced him to cancel his diplomatic visit abroad.
Speaking in the Irish capital, the president highlighted a local industrial facility currently under scrutiny for allegedly shipping critical minerals to Russian processing plants, which then feed into the country’s arms production chain.
“Each delivery of material that lands in Russia becomes a weapon against us. I expect that all ongoing efforts will close every avenue for Moscow to strengthen its military capacity,” Zelenskyy stated during a press conference.
He added: “When we see their economy contract, we witness an immediate impact. As it shrinks, their capability to launch large-scale assaults diminishes. That’s why the outcome of this inquiry matters deeply to us.”
The inquiry focuses on the Aughinish Alumina refinery, owned by the Russian aluminum conglomerate Rusal. Authorities in Ireland launched the investigation following a joint probe by OCCRP and partner organizations, which used leaked financial records to demonstrate how the refinery’s output flows into supply chains of EU-sanctioned Russian defense contractors arming Moscow’s forces in Ukraine.
Zelenskyy had been in Dublin to inaugurate Ireland’s six-month presidency of the European Union Council when he received news of the impending strike. The overnight attack claimed 13 lives and wounded many more, leveling buildings with drones and ballistic missiles.
The assault underscored the urgency of his earlier remarks at Dublin Castle, where he criticized Brussels for failing to impose sanctions on European-based companies controlled by Russian tycoons.
“These entities continue delivering essential materials to Russia, even as we speak,” he told assembled officials and diplomats.
The president’s comments came on the heels of a Swedish tax authority ruling that all Rusal operations in Europe, including Aughinish Alumina, should face EU sanctions and asset freezes, according to a report from OCCRP partner the Irish Times.
Rusal, which operates aluminum facilities across Europe, remains under the control of founder Oleg Deripaska—a billionaire and longtime associate of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Deripaska was placed under EU sanctions for his role in companies linked to the Russian defense sector.
Swedish tax officials argue that Deripaska still holds ultimate authority over Kubikenborg Aluminium AB (Kubal), a Rusal-owned smelter that depends on raw materials from Ireland’s Aughinish Alumina. They claim Deripaska governs Kubal via Rusal and its parent firm, EN+ Group.
Though Deripaska previously reduced his ownership share to secure relief from U.S. sanctions in 2018, Swedish authorities deemed that restructuring a “purely formal” maneuver. They pointed to Putin’s 2023 Decree No. 16, a counter-sanctions order permitting Russian companies to disregard shareholders from “unfriendly states.” By sidelining Western investors, this decree effectively raises Deripaska’s controlling stake to 53% and his board voting power to 70%.
As a result, Sweden’s tax authority ruled that EN+ and Rusal assets must face EU sanctions. Sweden subsequently froze 56.8 million Swedish kronor (€5.1 million) in Kubal’s tax account, while police detained two senior executives in a separate sanctions-evasion investigation.
Kubal, Sweden’s sole primary aluminum producer, has contested the decision, warning of serious economic consequences for the region.
The Swedish action intensifies pressure on both Ireland and the EU to stop alumina shipments to Russia.
On Thursday, the European Green Party called on the Irish government to avoid using the ongoing national probe as a reason for delay.
“When there’s a legitimate concern that strategic raw materials produced in Europe are supporting Russia’s war effort, exports must cease immediately,” the party declared.
It also demanded “a Europe-wide review to identify any other export loopholes to Russia within the EU, and a reassessment of sanctions lists to guarantee all relevant sectors and channels are fully covered.”
While Ireland’s Department of Enterprise declined to comment on the active investigation, Aughinish Alumina insisted that Deripaska holds no operational authority, affirming full adherence to EU regulations and denying that its Irish-refined alumina enters the Russian weapons supply chain.