Despite sanctions, Russia received $2.9B in components from the West via Ukraine

According to the Ukrainian president’s office, Western companies supplied Russia with $2.9 billion worth of components that can be used for military production in the first 10 months of 2023, despite sanctions on Moscow.

Kyiv has been urging its allies to tighten sanctions on Russia and close export control loopholes, as it believes Moscow is still able to import military goods for its war in Ukraine.

The Ukrainian president’s office stated that Russia’s 2023 imports of military goods amounted to 90% of the levels registered before the full-scale invasion in February 2022. This information was based on research conducted by a working group led by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, and former U.S. ambassador to Moscow, Michael McFaul. The research focused on Russian attempts to circumvent export control sanctions on military goods.

“The products of more than 250 Western companies were found in samples of destroyed or captured Russian weapons,” Zelenskyy’s office reported.

The Kyiv School of Economics, which participated in the research, found almost 2,800 foreign components in Russian military equipment, including the “Kinzhal” hypersonic missiles that Moscow uses for air strikes on Ukraine.

“In fact, 95% of all parts found in Russian weapons on the battlefield were sourced from producers in coalition countries, with 72% accounted for by U.S.-based companies alone,” the study revealed.

Russia had not commented on the remarks by Zelenskyy’s office at the time of the report.