UK parts used in Russian weapons

Probe launched after inspections of kit left in Ukraine

An investigation has been launched by the British Government after Ukmade components were used in weapons systems deployed by Russia in Ukraine.

Inspections of abandoned kit left behind by President Vladimir Putin’s forces revealed a deep dependence on Western-made parts, according to field research by academics at the Royal United Services Institute (Rusi).

In just one example, a Borisoglebsk-2 mobile jamming system was found to contain sophisticated components made in the United Kingdom, United States, Germany, South Korea, Taiwan, and the Netherlands.

The parts from the UK included multiple high-frequency transistors, examples of so-called “dual-use” electronics that can be used for both military and civilian purposes.

The Daily Telegraph understands that a Whitehall investigation has been launched into the British components and how they came to be used in Russian kit.

A spokesman for the Department for International Trade said: “We have introduced the largest and most severe economic sanctions that Russia has ever faced, to help cripple Putin’s war machine, including by sanctioning key defence sector organisations, and banning the export of critical technologies. The UK has one of the most robust and transparent export control regimes in the world, and an immediate arms embargo was imposed on Russia in July 2014 following its illegal annexation of Crimea.”

Businesses have been banned from exporting dual-use technologies to Russia since the outbreak of the Ukraine conflict. There is no suggestion that the British suppliers knowingly broke the rules. However, experts have raised concerns that highvalue parts and arms could continue to flow into Russia if they are sold to countries such as India, which is seen as a major smuggling route for the Kremlin.

Speaking on a foreign visit to New Delhi last month, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the Government would seek to block “loopholes of any kind” being exploited by the Putin regime.

Choking off the supply of replacement components is seen as a way to degrade Moscow’s military machine over time. However, Jack Watling and Nick Reynolds, the Rusi report’s authors, warned that doing so will be complicated because in many cases the Russians were using covert tactics to conceal whom the parts are ultimately for.

The Kremlin uses front companies, intermediaries and even blackmail to obtain what it needs, they said. “Although Russian weapons are full of Western components, it is not clear the companies manufacturing them knew that the Russian military was the end-user.”

They added: “Moreover, there are myriad companies based around the world, including in the Czech Republic, Serbia, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Turkey, India and China, who will take considerable risks to meet Russian supply requirements.”

Restricting exports of dual-use items to third countries risked a diplomatic backlash. The UK has announced it will ease arms export arrangements with India.

— Telegraph Group Ltd