Latvian companies, despite the sanctions, continue to supply Russian enterprises of the military-industrial complex with microcircuits, which, in particular, are used for the production of Iskander ballistic missiles, The Insider claims in its investigation.
After the start of full-scale Russian aggression in Ukraine, the imposition of sanctions and tightening of export controls from Latvia to Russia, as the publication notes, microcircuits worth millions of euros were imported.
As investigators specify, products from the Riga Semiconductor Device Plant (SDP) Alfa were also imported into the Russian Federation. This enterprise in Russia has a branch of Alpha LLC, which, however, did not import Riga microchips. These goods, according to investigators, were imported into Russia by two companies until February 2022: Lesta-M Company LLC and Alfa-LR LLC.
After the start of a full-scale war, the only importer purchasing microcircuits from RZPP is the Lesta-M Company. Only its counterparties now include the Riga company ALFA RPAR and two, apparently, Chinese companies: Dalian Stella Trading Co. Ltd and Liaoning Jinhechuang Logistics Co. Ltd. During less than a year of hostilities, as investigators emphasize, they purchased $1.7 million worth of products from RZPP.
The Lesta-M Company supplied microchips received from these companies to enterprises of the Russian military-industrial complex.
The most important trading partner of the Lesta-M Company, according to government procurement data, was JSC Research Institute of Electronic Devices (NIIEP), with which it entered into contracts worth 43 million rubles. This enterprise, as journalists clarify, is part of Rostec through the Tekhmash concern. NIIEP participated in the development of Iskander ballistic missiles, as well as in the creation of radar systems for Kinzhal missiles and automation for Tochka-U missiles.
In addition, the Lesta-M Company supplied Riga microcircuits to the Izhevsk Electromechanical Plant Kupol, which, among other things, produces the Tor-M2E anti-aircraft missile system.
The Lesta-M Company’s clients also include: Ufa Instrument-Making Production Association (produces on-board instruments for the Su-27), Ural Optical-Mechanical Plant (produces optical-location stations for combat aircraft), Polyus Research Institute named after. Stelmakh (produces laser-guided weapons).
According to The Insider’s sources in the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Riga microcircuits have not yet been found in downed Russian missiles. However, investigators are confident that this can happen, as the production of missile weapons in Russia is gaining momentum.
Since the start of Russia’s full-scale military invasion of Ukraine, the United States and other countries have imposed export controls to limit Russia’s access to technology and other resources that could support its defense industrial complex. Those involved in the purchase of advanced Western electronics and equipment for the Russian military-industrial complex have been charged and placed under arrest by the US authorities.
Source : CURRENTTIME
