Russia attempts to retrieve exported tank and missile components from India and Myanmar
“Russia may be re-importing components to upgrade older weapons intended for use in Ukraine, counting on the assistance of countries with which it has long-standing military ties,” the Nikkei article reads.
Since the start of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, the United States, European countries, and Japan have imposed bans on exporting goods that could potentially serve military purposes to Russia.
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Nikkei conducted an analysis of customs clearance data for shipments to Russia, utilizing information from ImportGenius, a U.S. research company, as well as Indian Exim Trade Data and other sources. The study examined records of Russia’s imports of armament components, including tanks and missiles.
For instance, Uralvagonzavod, a tank manufacturer for the Russian military, imported military products worth $24 million from Myanmar on Dec. 9, 2022. The components were identified as being manufactured by Uralvagonzavod. The product codes associated with the imported goods indicate that the company acquired 6,775 sighting devices and 200 cameras for tanks.
According to retired Japanese Self-Defense Forces senior officer Nobuyuki Akatani, these are likely “optical devices for measuring distances to targets and aiming at them.”
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Customs declarations reveal that Russia had previously exported components to Myanmar in 2019, which it is now attempting to retrieve. The documents claim that the return is due to defects in the previously exported equipment. However, military analysts find it unusual for such a large volume of defective production.
Furthermore, the Machine-Building Design Bureau (KBM), which engages in missile production, acquired night vision sight components for “surface-to-air” missiles for $150,000 from the Indian Ministry of Defense in late 2022. All these components were originally manufactured by KBM and exported to India in February 2013.
According to the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, as of the morning of June 5, Ukraine has destroyed 3,848 Russian tanks since the start of the full-scale war.
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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
