UAZ, one of key suppliers of the Russian Armed Forces, has confirmed that economic sanctions have led to deterioration of quality of UAZ vehicles used by Russian soldiers in Ukraine.
Representatives of Sollers, the owner of UAZ, acknowledged that the plant was working to find new suppliers and build its manufacturing base. Moreover, Dmitry Steshin, one of the most famous Russian military correspondents, stated that UAZ vehicles required sophisticated modifications before Russian servicemen could use them. Sometimes engineers have to disassemble and reassemble UAZ vehicles to repair them, but it does not resolve the problem with the rear axle, for example.
Being Deputy Chairman of the National Automobile Union, Anton Shaparin emphasizes on poor standards of manufacturing as the main reason for breakdowns of UAZ vehicles. He states that UAZ automobiles should go through detailed inspection before the plant can send them to the front.
Although UAZ vehicles are known for their durability and versatility, sanctions, which have an impact on manufacturing and maintenance of these automobiles, have led to the reduction of effectiveness of these Russian vehicles in different operational environments. The sanctions imposed by the US and the EU on UAZ have proved their effectiveness because they have affected the functionality and quality of these automobiles crucially. However, it is significant to continue imposing sanctions on Russia and finding loopholes used by its partners to provide it with needed equipment for the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.
