Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree prohibiting the use of foreign-made military uniforms for the Russian Armed Forces from January 1, 2026, with a further requirement that all fabrics and materials be sourced domestically from 2027.

 

 

 

The decree, dated and signed on August 11, directs the Russian government, Ministry of Defense, and Ministry of Industry and Trade to ensure that all clothing and equipment for the armed forces are manufactured by Russian companies operating within the country. By 2027, the materials used must also be produced on Russian soil.

 

 

 

 

 

It remains unclear whether the ban will extend to close allies such as Belarus and Kazakhstan, both members of the same free trade bloc. The countries currently supplying Russian military uniforms have not been officially disclosed, though Radio Free Asia previously reported that North Korea provided uniforms as recently as late 2022.

 

 

 

According to that report, Russia supplied materials to North Korea, where the uniforms were produced in Pyongyang factories before being shipped back to Russia by rail. The two countries later signed a mutual defense treaty in 2024, expanding military and trade cooperation, with Pyongyang supplying troops, weapons, and munitions to support Moscow’s war in Ukraine in exchange for resources and technological assistance.

 

 

 

It is not yet known whether North Korea has continued supplying uniforms since 2022 or if the new decree will affect trade between the two nations.