Western components in Russian technology: how Putin evades sanctions

Despite sanctions, components for military technology continue to flow into Russia through third countries. Specifically, about 98% of transistors, microchips, and more specialised microprocessors are imported into Russia from Kazakhstan, China, and the United Arab Emirates. Over the past year, this figure has grown from 54% to 98%.

According to the Foreignpolicy publication, these components are used in the production of military equipment, from "Kalibr" missiles to T-72 tanks.

Furthermore, some companies, such as Intel, ceased direct shipments to Russia at the beginning of the conflict but did not implement effective measures against re-export through third countries. In 2022, Intel even increased its export of critical components to Russia to $700 million, compared to $500 million in the previous year.

China's role stands out as well, as it has become a significant supplier to Russia. China covers over 87% of Russian semiconductor imports, a significant increase from the previous year. However, most of these components are not considered Chinese because they are sent through Hong Kong.

Additionally, other countries like Kazakhstan and the United Arab Emirates have also become key suppliers to Russia. For instance, in 2022, Kazakhstan exported microchips worth $3.7 million, compared to $12,000 in the previous year. The United Arab Emirates increased their electronics exports to Russia sevenfold and microchips fifteenfold in 2022.

It has recently been revealed that nearly 70% of foreign components in Russian drones come from Western countries. This indicates that Russia remains heavily dependent on imported components, especially microelectronics.