In Odesa region as well: SBU exposes companies that supplied missile chips to Russia

The Security Service of Ukraine has exposed companies in Kharkiv, Chernivtsi and Odesa regions that, during the full-scale invasion, were supplying electronic components for the production of missiles and drones to the Russian Federation, circumventing international sanctions.

According to the SBU press service, these are companies that are part of a large international corporation based in Russia that produces unique microchips and electronic boards used in the navigation and control systems of ballistic and cruise missiles such as X-101, Kalibr and Iskander-K.

Some of these boards are also used for guidance systems for kamikaze drones, Tornado-G multiple rocket launchers, and onboard navigation of the Ka-52 attack and reconnaissance helicopter. According to the case materials, the defendants developed a plan for the systematic supply of electronic components from Ukraine to Russia, circumventing sanctions bans.

In order to successfully implement the plan, they substituted the end consumer of the products, bought them in Ukraine and other countries, sent them to a controlled company in the Middle East, which is under international sanctions, and from there to a Russian company, which is also under Western sanctions.

Among the end users of the goods are strategic state-owned enterprises of the Russian Federation and enterprises operating within the structure of the military-industrial complex of the aggressor country, in particular JSC SpetsTechnoMash.

It has been documented that during the summer of 2022 alone, the participants of the scheme smuggled more than 1,500 microelectronics items to Russia for a total of more than $600,000.

The facts of the use of Ukrainian microchips and circuit boards by the racists were confirmed by the conclusions of professional examinations based on the study of the wreckage of Russian missiles and drones. During the searches of the company's officials, the SBU found material evidence of their work in the interests of the Kremlin.

The SBU has now detained one of the suspects, who also had a Russian passport. Investigators of the special service served him a notice of suspicion under Part 3 of Article 28, Part 1 of Article 111-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (aiding the aggressor state committed by an organized group). He faces up to 12 years in prison with confiscation of property. Other participants in the scheme are being served with notices of suspicion under the same article.

Кирило Бойко