Always. Everywhere. Regardless.

Should put a dent in Russian MIC expenditures. I suspect Russia is exaggerating their ability to resolve the issue. They have depended on Ukraine too much for MIC tech.

They still have the expertise, the manpower, tools, plants and resources. Make cars, farm equipment, whatever. Screw the arms industry. Really.

but that doesn't change the fact that broadly speaking their goods don't meet the standards expected by other countries - particularly those of the EU.

'You either play ball with us or you will be in a world of hurt." (But we do not believe in getting involved in the "internal affairs" of other countries. Only the West does that.)

Until last year Russia did want Ukraine and its military factories in the "free trade" zone that they have just agreed to. But Ukraine has made the "wrong" political choices in the past year, so it is time to ratchet up the punishment. Someone should tell Vlad that countries can have trade agreements with more than one other country or group of countries. Ukraine can trade with the European Union and the Eurasian Union at the same time. Other countries do it all the time.

but that was dismissed by Kiev just as soon as Yanukovych departed.

the essence of this story. I am not sure what Ukraine gains by refusing to sell the products produced in its factories to Russia. I could see them wanting to undertake a long-term reorientation away from arms production, but not a short term strategy of closing these plants which employ so many people.

All I could find were quotes from Russian defense ministry officials. Without confirmation it sounds like someone is Russia is floating an idea that, if true, would justify cutting off Ukrainian factories from continuing to supply military products to Russia. That would teach those folks in Kiev a lesson. They think things are bad in eastern Ukraine now. Wait until all the factories making arms for Russia close down.

This is where I found that link to Fars :

TEHRAN (FNA)- Ukraine introduced a ban on supplies of Russian arms, military hardware and its components since March.
http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine-abroad/fars-news-agency-ukraine-introduces-ban-on-russian-military-products-350218.html

I would assume that Kiev post wouldn't have copied it if not true given the Post is pro Kiev. Russia has no vested interest in shutting down the supply before substitute production lines are in place elsewhere.

Those under the Russian Vlad pointed out that the Customs Union had very specific requirements that had to be met. The EC had specific requirements that had to be met. They were mutually exclusive. Neither the CU nor the EC were about to rewrite all their regulations for Ukraine.

It's like saying, "I believe that a command and control economy with a strong central government and rigorous tariff protections is fully compatible with a laissez-faire deregulated business environment and free trade." If you have your cake after you've eaten it, you're left with a brown, stinky mess.

What a Crate in Syria Says About Saudi Help to the Rebels

Earlier this week, the BBC published a report documenting the apparent hand of Saudi Arabia in the transfer of Ukrainian arms to Syria's rebels. The report was accompanied by a photograph of a wooden munitions crate bearing a label showing that the crate had been packed at a factory listed as LCW, in the eastern Ukrainian city of Luhansk, and then shipped to Saudi Arabia.

...

The shipping label seen by the BBC, the ammunition sampling done by Mr. Spleeters and At War, and Mr. Jenzen-Jones's analysis together suggest that Kalashnikov ammunition procured from Ukraine by Saudi Arabia is reaching Syrian rebel hands. This would align with what the rebels themselves say, and with Robert F. Worth's report in The New York Times on Sunday, in which Saudi and Qatari officials confirmed providing light arms and ammunition to the fighters seeking the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad.
http://mobile.nytimes.com/blogs/atwar/2012/10/11/what-a-crate-in-syria-says-about-saudi-help-to-the-rebels/