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Russia is expanding its sanctions evasion toolkit by redirecting part of its international financial transactions into cryptocurrency payment channels through African countries, according to Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation (CCD), UATV English reports.
The CCD reports that Moscow is promoting the A7 platform in countries such as Nigeria and Zimbabwe as an alternative mechanism for cross-border payments. The system relies on stablecoins and debt-based instruments, which are significantly harder to track and block compared to traditional banking transactions.
The platform is reportedly linked to the sanctioned Russian Promsvyazbank and Moldovan politician Ilan Shor, who is associated with pro-Russian networks. According to the CCD, this suggests the system may be used not only for convenience but also to circumvent sanctions and move financial operations beyond Western oversight.
Following its disconnection from SWIFT and the tightening of U.S. and EU sanctions, Russia has been systematically seeking ways to reduce its dependence on Western-controlled financial infrastructure. Africa has emerged as a key direction due to the rapid growth of crypto payments, demand for low-cost international transfers, and weaker regulation of cross-border financial flows.
“The sanctions system is facing a new challenge: financial technologies allow bypassing traditional control mechanisms. It is crucial to strengthen oversight of such tools to ensure that economic pressure on Russia remains effective,” the CCD emphasized.
Earlier reports also indicated that Russia has intensified activities through so-called “Russian Houses” in Africa, using them not only as instruments of influence but also as recruitment hubs for mercenaries in its war against Ukraine.
