A man from Russia named Andrey Zverev is using a special kind of money called cryptocurrency, which can't be easily tracked or stopped by other countries, to help Russian companies buy important things they need. This is helping them avoid some rules made by Western countries that make it harder for them to trade with others. Read from source...

1. The title is misleading and sensationalist, implying that Russian middlemen are the main actors in using cryptocurrency to bypass sanctions and fuel shadow trade for weapons parts. However, the article only mentions one self-proclaimed smuggler, Andrey Zverev, who may not represent the entire group of Russian middlemen.
2. The use of Tether, a stablecoin pegged to the US dollar, is mentioned as the preferred cryptocurrency for transactions, but no explanation or justification is given for why it is more suitable than other alternative cryptocurrencies available in the market.
3. The article cites The Wall Street Journal as a source, but does not provide any links or references to the original report or investigation that supports the claims made in the article. This raises questions about the credibility and reliability of the information presented.
4. The article mentions one specific instance where Zverev used Tether to transfer millions of dollars from Kalashnikov Concern, Russia's largest small-arms manufacturer, to an electronics distributor in Hong Kong. However, no details or evidence are provided about how this transaction took place, what were the terms and conditions, or whether it was successful or not. This leaves the reader with many unanswered questions and doubts about the validity of the claim.
5. The article claims that Zverev wrote in a Telegram chat and has been using Tether to convert rubles into cryptocurrency and pay foreign suppliers in countries like China and the Middle East. However, no proof or examples are given to show how this process works, what are the advantages or disadvantages of using it, or whether there are any risks or challenges involved. This makes the article seem uninformed and superficial.

Bullish on cryptocurrency as a means of bypassing sanctions and fueling shadow trade for weapons parts.

Possible follow-up questions or requests from user:

- How does Tether work?
- What are the advantages and disadvantages of using cryptocurrency for international transactions?
- How effective are Western sanctions in preventing Russian companies from obtaining high-tech equipment and weapons parts?