Zelenskyy Urges EU to Sanction Russian-Owned Alumina Plant in Ireland

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called on the European Union to impose sanctions on Aughinish Alumina, an Irish alumina refinery owned by the Russian company Rusal, arguing that the facility continues to supply strategically important raw materials to Russia.

Zelenskyy made the appeal during his visit to Dublin on July 2, the opening day of Ireland's presidency of the Council of the European Union. According to the Ukrainian president, every tonne of alumina exported to Russia can be used to support the country's military-industrial complex.

"Every tonne of raw material that ends up in Russia is used against us in this war. We hope we won't have to wait for a month," Zelenskyy said.

Speaking at the ceremony marking the start of Ireland's EU presidency, he also urged European partners to strengthen sanctions against Russia, particularly targeting its "shadow fleet" and companies operating within Europe that continue to serve the Kremlin's interests despite existing sanctions.

Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin said the government is finalising an investigation into Aughinish Alumina's operations and whether its products are being used by Russia's defence industry. He noted that the findings are expected soon and will be discussed with the European Commission.

"We do not want to be in a position where material produced at a plant in Ireland supports the Russian war machine," Martin said.

Located in County Limerick, Aughinish Alumina is Europe's largest producer of alumina, the key raw material used in aluminium production. The refinery is owned by Rusal, a company founded by oligarch Oleg Deripaska, who is under sanctions imposed by the EU, the United States and the United Kingdom. However, neither Rusal nor Aughinish Alumina itself is currently subject to EU sanctions.

According to Russian customs records reviewed by the Financial Times, the largest recipient of alumina produced at the Irish refinery is Rusal's aluminium plant in Krasnoyarsk, one of Russia's major aluminium production hubs.

The volume of exports to Russia remains disputed. Preliminary data from Ireland's Central Statistics Office indicated that 83% of Aughinish Alumina's exports in the first quarter of 2026 were shipped to Russia. The company, however, said those figures were incorrect, claiming that the actual share was 51%. EU diplomats argue that even this level of exports is unacceptable while Russia continues its full-scale war against Ukraine.

According to the Financial Times, Dublin has so far resisted efforts by several EU member states to place Aughinish under sanctions, citing concerns that such measures could force the refinery to shut down. European officials, however, argue that if sanctions would indeed jeopardise the plant's operations, it only underscores how heavily its business depends on exports to Russia.

Ireland is also considering several long-term options regarding the refinery. Following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the government examined the possibility of nationalising Aughinish Alumina, although such a move is currently viewed as unlikely.