Russia’s military has found a surprisingly simple way to buy US chips despite facing US sanctions over its invasion of Ukraine. Internal Russian documents reviewed by Bloomberg reveal how Moscow’s forces have continued to acquire American semiconductors, leaving officials frustrated.
Russian weapons recovered from battlefields in the region contain components from firms like Intel Corp. and Analog Devices Inc., sparking questions about why trade controls are failing. A cache of records obtained by Bloomberg sheds light on the supply chain, showing steps suppliers take to acquire Texas Instruments Inc. components without US companies’ knowledge.
Russian distributors are handling thousands of shipments bound for military contractors, including companies under US sanctions. These shipments help produce drones, glide bombs, precision communication systems, and Iskander missiles used in Ukraine’s cities. The simple process has allowed Russia to evade US sanctions, raising concerns about the effectiveness of trade controls.
Source: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2024-12-09/russia-s-military-buying-us-chips-from-texas-instruments-despite-sanctions