During an interview with Bloomberg, Lieutenant General Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraine‘s Defense Intelligence, emphasized the importance of cutting off Russia’s access to components used in the production of missiles and drones. According to the Main Intelligence Directorate, this mainly includes dual-use goods such as semiconductors and microelectronics, which Russia continues to purchase despite sanctions.
Budanov pointed out that these components are often sourced from Western countries and can be found in the missiles and drones used by Russia in attacks against Ukraine. He also mentioned that some companies may claim to not directly sell to Russia, but the parts still end up in their hands through intermediaries.
Reports have shown that Russia has received nearly $4 billion worth of restricted chips since 2022, with many of them coming from Hong Kong through a network of shadow companies. These chips are then used in the production of weapons, including drones and cruise missiles.
To obtain these technologies, Russia turns to international distributors in countries such as China, Turkey, India, Serbia, and Singapore, who receive the equipment directly from manufacturers. This highlights the need for stricter enforcement of sanctions and for companies to be more vigilant in preventing their products from reaching Russia.
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