Ukrainian officials reveal US parts found in Russian missile

On a recent Sunday, a Russian cruise missile struck a government building in central Kyiv, Ukraine. Ukrainian officials reported that the missile was filled with numerous foreign components, many of which were made in the United States. Vladyslav Vlasiuk, Ukraine's presidential commissioner for sanctions policy, noted that this missile, classified as an Iskander 9M727, did not explode, likely due to damage inflicted by Ukrainian air defenses. Photographs of the missile and details of its components were shared publicly as part of Ukraine's efforts to inform allies about the foreign parts used in Russian weaponry. The list of components included 35 parts from American manufacturers such as Texas Instruments and Analog Devices, as well as parts from Japanese, British, and Swiss companies. Interestingly, the serial numbers indicated that while some of these components were manufactured years ago, others came from recent production, even after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine commenced in 2022. In response to the conflict, Western countries had imposed strict sanctions on the export of these components to prevent their use by Russia. However, it seems that Moscow has developed strategies to circumvent these export controls. For instance, Infineon Technologies, a German company owning Cypress Semiconductor, stated it has taken extensive measures to ensure that its products do not end up in Russia. The spokesperson mentioned that direct and indirect shipments to Russia have been halted, and the company actively seeks compliance among its customers. Nonetheless, the substantial volume of chips produced—including around 30 billion annually—makes it challenging to oversee the entire supply chain, potentially allowing some components to slip through. Vlasiuk added that even though the missile in question contained Western-made parts, it had fewer such components compared to previous Russian missiles analyzed during the conflict. He mentioned a noticeable trend of increased reliance on components from Russia and Belarus. This shift in component sourcing highlights the ongoing challenges faced by Ukraine and its allies in addressing the supply chain that supports the military capabilities of Russia. The components found in the missile were primarily classified as dual-use, originally intended for civilian applications but now adapted for military purposes, raising further concerns about the efficacy of international sanctions and the ongoing war.