Russia imported more than $502 million worth of foreign-made microchips in the first six months of 2023 despite United States and EU sanctions, the independent news website Vyorstkareported Monday, citing classified customs data.Since launching its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russia has been slapped with Western export restrictions on advanced semiconductors and other goods that can be re-purposed for military use, including microchips used in missiles and drones.Eleven out of the 25 biggest Russian importers of dual-purpose foreign chips such as those produced by Analog Devices, Infineon and Texas Instruments directly supply Russias defense industry, according to Vyorstkas investigation.
At least four of the listed companies have continued chip re-exports into Russia despite being under United States sanctions.Overall, Vyorstka notes that hundreds of companies are involved in the supply of dual-use chips mostly from China and Hong Kong into Russia.In addition to microchips, Vyorstkas analysis notes that Western sanctions failed to block the re-export of $389 million worth of iPhones since Feb.
25, when the United States imposed an export ban to Russia on smartphones worth more than $300.Our investigation has shown that practically anything can be imported into Russia from anywhere in the world, from a dual-use chip to a turbojet engine for an Airbus, the outlet said.Western companies are involved in schemes through third countries, while the Russian authorities safely circumvent European and American sanctions," it added.