Raw materials from the Irish plant may be used in the production of Russian weapons
In Ireland, pressure is mounting on the government over the export of alumina from the Aughinish plant, which is owned by the Russian company Rusal, linked to oligarch Oleg Deripaska. According to KSE experts, aluminum from this group’s facilities could be used in the production of Russian Shahed drones and missiles. This has raised concerns that raw materials from the Irish plant could potentially end up in Russia’s weapons production chains.
What kind of plant is this?
The Aughinish alumina plant in southwestern Ireland is Europe’s largest producer of alumina, the primary raw material for aluminum production. The plant itself is not subject to EU sanctions, but its owner, Rusal, is one of the world’s largest aluminum companies.
Rusal was founded by Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska, who is subject to sanctions by the U.S., the EU, and the UK.
The U.S. added Rusal to its sanctions list in 2018, but removed the company from the list a year later—after Deripaska reduced his stake and voting rights.
Where the raw materials go
According to Russian customs documents for 2025, reviewed by the Financial Times, the largest recipient of alumina from Aughinish is Rusal’s plant in Krasnoyarsk.
The Kyiv School of Economics (KSE) has included this city on its list of Russia’s critical military-industrial centers.
According to the Irish Times, Rusal’s trading division sells aluminum from the Krasnoyarsk plant to the ASK trading house, which supplies products to the Russian military-industrial complex.
KSE sanctions expert Pavlo Shkurenko explained why Russia needs aluminum: “Aluminum and its alloys are used in the production of tanks, armored vehicles, fighter jets, missile systems, and, more recently, drones. For example, long-range drones with jet turbines (such as the "Geran-3" and "Shahed") require high-purity aluminum alloys."
How much do these exports cost
According to the Ukrainian Embassy in Dublin, exports of alumina from Ireland to Russia have risen from €196 million in 2021 to €315 million in 2025.
Ireland’s Minister for Enterprise, Peter Burke, this week questioned data from the national statistics office stating that 83% of Aughinish’s exports in the first quarter went to Russia.
According to him, the company reported an error. According to the Irish Times, Aughinish cited a figure of 51% compared to 45% in 2025, explaining the previous figure as a “clerical error.”
Political Reaction
Regina Doherty, a Member of the European Parliament from the ruling Fine Gael party, stated: “If there is even a shadow of a doubt that we have inadvertently supported a supply chain for military materials, it must be an absolute imperative for us to act immediately."
She was joined by three other MEPs from Fine Gael.
Ciaran Caffey, co-chair of the European Green Party, stated that “it is becoming increasingly clear that materials produced in Ireland are part of the Russian war machine in Ukraine,” calling on the European Commission to sanction "all exports to Russia of materials that could be used to produce weapons or drones."
Government Response
Irish Defense Minister Micheál Martin called Aughinish an important local employer, but added: "We do not want the product to be turned into weapons or explosives in any form that could negatively impact Ukraine or, indeed, others."
The government says it is conducting an investigation but has not provided a specific timeline.
Ukraine’s reaction
The Ukrainian Embassy in Dublin expressed “serious concern regarding the continued export of alumina from Ireland to the Russian Federation,” calling this “trade flow” to Russia alarming.
“In the past week alone, the Russian Federation has launched more than 2,900 attack drones, nearly 1,560 guided bombs, and over 150 missiles against Ukrainian cities and towns,” the embassy noted.
Aughinish and Rusal did not respond to requests for comment from the Financial Times.
The growing scandal comes as Ireland, which has taken in a large number of Ukrainian refugees from the war, assumes the EU presidency on July 1.
“When we hold the presidency of the European Union next month, if we are the largest exporter of alumina to the Russian war machine and say something like ‘Glory to Ukraine’ and advocate for peace, that is an absolutely and utterly unacceptable situation,” said Tom Clonan, an independent senator.
This was reported by the Financial Times.
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