Ukraine ranks 12th among 25 largest arms exporters – SIPRI

Ukraine ranks 12th among the world's 25 largest arms exporters, according to Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).

SIPRI's research published on March 11 highlights major trends in international arms shipments between 2014-2018.

Ukraine's share of arms exports fell to 1.3% in 2014-2018 from 2.7% in 2009-2013.

In the ranking published last year, Ukraine was 11th. At the end of the year, South Korea overtook its position.

According to the research, Ukraine reduced arms exports by 47% in 2014-2018 compared with 2009-2013.

Imports of weapons to Ukraine during 2014-2018, despite the war in Donbas, remained at a fairly low level, according to the survey.

Read alsoNuclear weapon-possessing states developing, modernizing existing systems – SIPRI

Despite the fact that Russia (23% of the exporter's total exports) is mentioned along with China (27%) and Thailand (14%) as main clients of Ukraine over the period under review, the authors of the survey add that early in 2014 Russia imported weapons from Ukraine and started importing arms from other countries, but the annexation of Ukraine's Crimea by Russia in 2014 stopped those trade relations.

According to SIPRI, the volume of international transfers of major arms in 2014–18 was 7.8% higher than in 2009–13 and 23% higher than in 2004–2008, according to SIPRI's new data on arms transfers.

The five largest exporters in 2014–18 were the United States, Russia, France, Germany, and China. Together, they accounted for 75% of the total volume of arms exports in 2014–18. The flow of arms increased to the Middle East between 2009–13 and 2014–18, while there was a decrease in flows to all other regions.