KYIV. UkraineGate .14 . December .2022 | War News .
Despite export restrictions, the Russian Federation continues to receive electronic chips from Western manufacturers necessary for the manufacture of weapons. This is stated in a joint investigation by Reuters and the British think tank Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) .
Details
According to the data, in the seven months to October 31, electronics imports to the Russian Federation amounted to $ 2.6 billion, of which Western manufacturers account for $ 777 million.
Computer chips were found in Russian weapons systems of American Intel Corp, Advanced Micro Devices Inc (AMD), Texas Instruments Inc and Analog Devices Inc., as well as German Infineon AG.
It was established that for the implementation of deliveries, the Russian Federation created companies in Turkey and Hong Kong and other shopping centers of the world.
For example, one Russian importer, OOO Fortap, based in St. Petersburg, was created by a Russian businessman in April and has since imported at least $138 million in electronics, including American computer parts, according to Russian customs documents.
Investigators show that one of Fortap’s largest suppliers is Turkish company Bion Group Ltd Sti, a former textile trader who recently started wholesale electronics. Bion’s general manager declined to comment.
Another Russian importer, Titan-Micro LLC, registered the address of a house in the forest on the northern outskirts of Moscow. He also imported Western computer components after the invasion, according to customs documents.
Some of the suppliers, including firms in Hong Kong and Turkey, have ties to Russian citizens, according to a review of company documents.
As noted, an Intel spokesman said it complies with all sanctions and export controls against Russia and “has a clear policy according to which its distributors and customers must comply with all export requirements and international laws.”
An AMD spokesman also said the firm “strictly complies” to all export regulations and suspended the sale and support of its products in Russia. “This includes a requirement for all AMD customers and authorized distributors” to stop selling AMD products in the Russian Federation.
Infineon, in turn, said that after the invasion, the company “instructed all distribution partners around the world to prevent deliveries and take stringent measures that would prevent any redirection of Infineon’s products or services contrary to sanctions.”
Texas Instruments said it had not sent to Russia since late February. Analog Devices did not respond to a request.
It is noted that a spokesman for the US Department of Commerce said that “since the beginning of the invasion, Russia’s access to technology has accelerated by almost 70% thanks to the actions of an unprecedented coalition of 38 countries that have united to respond to Vladimir Putin’s aggression.”
Supplement
U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland said the United States would continue to work to restrict Russia’s access to high technology and track sanctions violations through technical means.
Source: Ukrgate
