Exports to former Soviet Union countries up since the war

A spokesperson for the Department of Enterprise, Trade, and Employment said it was aware of the risk of the circumvention of sanctions via third countries

CSO figures show the value of exports from the Republic to Armenia has risen from less than €0.9m in 2021, to €6m in the first year of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and to almost €10.7m in 2023. Picture: Karlis Dzjamko

There has been a surge in the past two years of Irish exports to former Soviet Union countries suspected of being used to circumvent trade sanctions imposed on Russia after it initiated a war against Ukraine.

Official trade figures show the overall level of exports from Ireland to one country with close trading ties with Russia has increased more than 50-fold since 2021.