Aughinish Alumina, Europe's largest alumina refinery and Russian-owned subsidiary of Rusal, continues exporting material used in Russian weapons production despite the ongoing Ukraine war — a supply chain that EU lawmakers and Irish political opposition say violates the spirit of Western sanctions. The Irish government has resisted pressure to shut down or nationalize the facility, citing economic concerns and refugee obligations, but the contradiction has drawn sharp criticism from European Parliament members and investigative outlets. Ireland's position is complicated by its historical neutrality and economic dependence on the facility, but the core issue — a NATO-adjacent EU member profiting from materials entering Russian military supply chains — represents a significant sanctions enforcement gap that multiple governments are now actively pressuring Dublin to close.