Ukraine suspects Russia has found ways to circumvent sanctions to make weapons for its war of invasion. According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s sanctions officer, Russian missiles and cruise missiles apparently also often contain components from Germany and other Western countries.
“People are killed by bullets here every day,” Wladyslaw Wlasjuk told the “Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung”. “And many of them contain components from Western countries.” From Ukraine, this is only possible because sanctions against Russia are circumvented via third countries. According to “FAS”, Vlasyuk had already reported on this on June 13 to Western ambassadors in Kiev, together with Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and Economy Minister Yulia Swyrydenko.
The report to the ambassadors stated that the majority of smuggled projectile parts came from the US at 81 percent. Switzerland follows in second with eight percent, Germany and Japan are third with 3.5 percent each. Russia is reported to have roughly doubled its production of ballistic and cruise missiles since the beginning of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, from 512 to an estimated 1,061.
Parts of 16 German companies found in weapons
Components from Germany are said to have been installed in the Kh-101 cruise missile and in the 9M728 and 9M729 variants of the Iskander cruise missile. The hypersonic missile Kh-47M2 Kinschal should also contain German components. According to Ukrainian findings, a total of 16 German companies provided materials and services for these weapons. Exports mainly went via China, but also via Central Asia, the Caucasus or Turkey. Electronics, insulation material and plastics would have been supplied. Because business is done through front companies in transit countries, some companies may not even know where their products are going.
Components delivered before the war?
According to “FAS”, the foreign ministry in Berlin said that reports “from our Ukrainian colleagues about the use of sanctioned components in Russian projectiles are taken very seriously” and that this information is “very carefully” checked. However, it is “possible that these components were delivered before the war and before our sanctions came into effect”. Deliveries in violation of sanctions would be “a matter for the Public Prosecution Service”.
Zelenskyj had already called for better sanctions controls after the deadly Russian missile attack on his hometown of Kryvyi Rih in mid-June. Moscow can still obtain missile parts, some of which are manufactured in Ukraine’s partner countries.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
