Russian military forces are circumventing U.S. sanctions by using sophisticated networks of third-party intermediaries to obtain American-made semiconductor chips, according to a recent Bloomberg investigation. The report reveals that Texas Instruments components are regularly appearing in Russian weapons deployed against Ukraine, including drones, precision-guided bombs, and Iskander missiles.
Between January and August 2023, one major Russian distributor processed orders for Texas Instruments products worth approximately $6 million, with nearly $4 million destined for Russian military manufacturers. These transactions occurred despite strict U.S. sanctions prohibiting semiconductor exports to Russia.
The investigation uncovered that Russian buyers are exploiting complex multi-country supply chains to obscure the final destination of these components. By routing shipments through multiple jurisdictions before reaching Russia, tracking becomes extremely challenging for both manufacturers and regulators.
Adding to the complexity, some third-party distributors have created sophisticated online portals that mirror Texas Instruments' own e-commerce platform. These websites maintain real-time pricing and inventory data, allowing Russian buyers to shop as if they were legitimate Western customers. While Texas Instruments denies providing API access to Russian entities, these unauthorized portals continue to operate.
The U.S. government and Texas Instruments face mounting pressure to address these sanctions violations. However, the task is complicated by several factors: the involvement of multiple countries in the supply chain, the dual-use nature of many components, and the challenge of distinguishing between legitimate civilian purchases and military procurement.
"These chips are ending up in weapons systems that are actively being used against Ukraine," notes the Bloomberg report, highlighting the urgent need for stronger controls on semiconductor exports. As Russian military companies continue finding ways around existing restrictions, both regulators and manufacturers are racing to close these loopholes in the global supply chain.
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