Main photo: A close-up photo shows Cypress Semiconductor chips in the on-board computer of a Russian 9M727 missile that the Ukrainian military assembled on the battlefield and presented to Reuters by a senior SBU official in Kyiv, July 19, 2022. REUTERS/ Valentin Ohirenko
The Russians arranged to supply the necessary Western electronics to manufacture weapons through Turkey and Hong Kong.
This is stated in a joint investigation by Reuters and the British analytical center Royal United Services Institute (RUSI).
The investigators found out that in the seven months to October 31, 2022, electronics imports to the Russian Federation amounted to 2.6 billion dollars. Of these, 777 million dollars accounted for goods of Western manufacturers.
Among the imported goods are computer chips from US companies Intel Corp, Advanced Micro Devices Inc (AMD), Texas Instruments Inc and Analog Devices Inc, and Germany's Infineon AG.
Components manufactured in these companies were found in Russian weapons systems.
To carry out deliveries, Russia has created companies in Turkey, Hong Kong, and other world trade centers.
In addition, one Russian importer, LLC Fortap, based in St. Petersburg, was established by a Russian businessman in April. Since then, the company has imported at least $138 million worth of electronics, including American computer components.
This information is indicated in the documents of Russian customs. They show that one of the biggest suppliers for Fortap has become the Turkish company Bion Group Ltd Sti, which used to trade in textiles. Recently, Bion Group Ltd Sti started wholesale electronics. They refused to comment there.
Another Russian importer, Titan-Micro LLC, is registered at an address on the northern outskirts of Moscow. The company also imported Western computer components after the invasion.
Some suppliers, including Hong Kong and Turkey firms, have ties to Russian nationals. This is reflected in the company's documents.
Investigators stress that the documents obtained from the three commercial suppliers do not specify the type of semiconductors and other electronic products purchased. In addition, it is not known what exactly happens to these components when they reach Russia.
At the same time, the investigation emphasizes that after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the declared value of semiconductor imports by Russia actually increased dramatically.
