Irish Cabinet Evicts 16,000 Ukrainian Refugees Amidst Russian Missile Supply Chain Controversy

On April 28, the Irish Cabinet voted to evict 16,000 Ukrainian refugees from state accommodation, 27 days after Taoiseach Micheál Martin defended Ireland’s exports to Russia’s missile supply chain. This trade involves Aughinish Alumina, Europe’s largest alumina refinery, which the Cabinet has lobbied Washington and Brussels to shield from sanctions for a decade.

An investigation by OCCRP, the Irish Times, iStories, and KibOrg revealed Aughinish alumina, sourced from Rusal-owned mines, is shipped to Rusal smelters in Siberia. In 2024, Aughinish sent approximately $400 million worth of alumina, about 40% of the smelters’ intake. Leaked data shows these smelters convert alumina into aluminum, selling over $640 million worth to Moscow-based Aluminium Sales Company (ASK) between February 2022 and April 2025. ASK, formally independent but linked to Rusal, derives about a third of its revenue, $337 million, from Russian defense contracts. Its 2024 customers include over 40 EU-sanctioned arms makers, such as the Votkinsk Machine Building Plant (Iskander-M missiles) and Uralvagonzavod (T-72 tanks). Ukraine’s Main Directorate of Intelligence states 18 of these firms built weapons used in attacks on Ukrainian soil.

Ireland protects this trade due to Aughinish’s economic importance, employing 400 staff and 500 contractors, and contributing an estimated €150 million annually to the local economy. After Washington sanctioned Rusal in 2018, Ireland successfully lobbied for its delisting. Post-February 2022, Dublin pressed Brussels to keep Rusal off EU sanctions lists, succeeding despite Latvian efforts and the European Commission flagging alumina as a critical defense material. Aughinish supplies 30% of the EU’s alumina, with Russia becoming its largest customer, accounting for 68% of exports in 2024, up from 23% in 2020.

On April 1, Martin stated the government would review the investigation’s findings, and the EU’s sanctions envoy, David O’Sullivan, indicated potential alumina sanctions. However, no such measure was in the EU’s 20th sanctions package adopted April 23. The Cabinet’s April 28 decision also phases out the €600 monthly Accommodation Recognition Payment for 42,000 refugees in hosted housing, starting August. Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan proposed this, signed off by Martin. The Irish Refugee Council and Labour TD Ged Nash condemned the cuts, citing inconsistency with Ireland’s solidarity with Ukraine. Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs maintains alumina is not a sanctioned good, thus its export to Russia is unrestricted.