How the Russian Federation gets microchips for missiles and fighters: a scheme through Lukashenka's companies

Belarusian companies associated with dictator Alexander Lukashenko's entourage are helping Russia circumvent sanctions by supplying microchips for its military equipment. In two years, they earned more than.125 million, including Western-made products that are banned for export. Writes UNN with reference to the investigation of the "Belarusian investigative center".

From September 2022 to June 2024, Belarusian companies earned more than.125 million on the supply of microchips to Russia. Interestingly, some of them - almost на 400 thousand-were produced in the United States and EU countries, although such products have been banned for sale to Russia and Belarus since the beginning of a full-scale war. But the bans did not stop: in 22 months, almost 10 thousand western-made chips were sent from Belarus to Russia.

One of the key players was the company "Alexvit Ltd", which sent to Russia 131 chips manufactured in the USA, Germany and Finland. This company is managed by Sergey Borisyuk, who previously worked in the state Customs Committee of Belarus. After the outbreak of the war, the company's revenue tripled to 2 247 million in 2023. In addition to microchips, the company supplies tires and other promotional products to Russia.

Not far behind is the logistics company Vostok, which sold more than 1.5 thousand chips from December 2022 to March 2023. Its owner Alexey Matveev is associated with Sergey Teterin, a businessman close to Alexander Lukashenko who is under EU sanctions.

Microchips supplied from Belarus are used in Russian military equipment, such as Su-34 and Su-35S fighters, Kalibr missiles and Orion drones. These devices help to launch strikes on Ukraine, including the use of guided aerial bombs. Among the manufacturers of such chips is the American company Intel.

Companies associated with Lukashenka's entourage are actively looking for ways to circumvent sanctions. For example, OFS-export, associated with Lukashenka's" wallet "Alexander Shakutin, has sent more than 1,200 chips to Russia, while export trading house, associated with Viktor Lukashenko's former aide Alexander Zaitsev, continues to export sanctioned goods, including Apple machinery and engine oil.

These schemes are just the tip of the iceberg. Belarusian companies continue to supply banned goods to Russia, violating international restrictions, and make huge profits from this. However, the consequences for them may be much more serious, especially if the sanctions pressure from the West increases.

addition 

It is worth noting that the Russians are constantly trying to modify and modernize all the types of missiles and drones available to them, which are used for attacks on Ukraine. KNIISE specialists in the commentary UNN toldwhat features are being discussed and what role Western components play in changing enemy weapons. The enemy uses more than just western components. According to Alexander Ruvin, director of the Kiev Research Institute of forensic examinations, components for UAVs used by the enemy to attack Ukraine are supplied by about 50 manufacturers from China. In addition, KNIISE experts have established that the Russian x-69 missiles used by the invaders to hit Ukraine are created from several types of weapons and have foreign components. 

recall

The European Union is considering new sanctions against Chinese companies for helping a terrorist state develop UAVs used in the war against Ukraine.