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Putin Stirs European Worry on Home Appliance Imports Stripped for Arms

There’s been a boom in European exports of washing machines, refrigerators and even electric breast pumps to Russia’s neighbors since Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine.

A worker passes wrapped cargo in a cargo hangar at Charles de Gaulle airport in France. 

A worker passes wrapped cargo in a cargo hangar at Charles de Gaulle airport in France. 

Photographer: Nathan Laine/Bloomberg

A sudden and surprising spike in European exports of washing machines, refrigerators and even electric breast pumps to Russia’s neighbors is raising concerns among officials the trade boom may be helping Vladimir Putin’s war machine in Ukraine.

Armenia imported more washing machines from the European Union during the first eight months of the year than the past two years combined, according to data compiled by Bloomberg from the EU’s Eurostat database. Kazakhstan imported $21.4 million worth of European refrigerators through August, more than triple the amount for the same period last year.