Main image: Tank production at Uralvagonzavod: EKC supplied chromium ore to the Russian defense corporation until 2017. Photo: imago/Russian Look
The German company EKC.AG supplied chromium to Russia for over a year, despite international sanctions. After February 24, 2022, the company denies any connections with defense enterprises, and claims that Russia has its own chromium reserves and does not need to import ore.
According to Handelsblatt, from January 2023 to April 2024, EKC exported chromium worth approximately 24 million euros to Russia, which accounted for more than half of the total annual import of this metal to Russia during that period.
The defense industry uses chromium to protect cannon barrels from severe wear and shells from corrosion. According to representatives of the German defense industry, the durability of artillery pieces increases threefold with the use of chromium. experts estimate that the lifespan of artillery barrels with chromium coatings is at least three times longer.
EKC.AG is a well-known German company headquartered in Bavaria, led by Vladimir Platunov, a Russian citizen who has lived in Germany since the 1990s. The company also includes Evgeny Porokhnya and Oleg Krylov in its leadership team—both hold Russian passports and tax numbers. A significant portion of the company's 21 employees speak Russian. Additionally, important EKC offices are located in China, which has close ties with Russia. Among EKC’s clients was Uralvagonzavod, a key producer of armored vehicles for the Russian military.
On February 24, 2025, the United Kingdom included EKC in its sanctions list. In response, the company announced its intention to challenge the sanctions in court, calling them unlawful.
However, it remains unclear whether EKC has taken any actual steps to file a lawsuit.
