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NYT reveals Russia secretly built procurement network in Tokyo; missile parts continue to flow to Russia

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Russia has secretly established a procurement network in Tokyo, utilizing commercial firms and logistics channels to acquire dual-use technology.
  • This network, operated by Russia's military intelligence, circumvents Western sanctions by transshipping components through third countries.
  • Japanese electronic parts are found in approximately 90% of Russian missiles and drones, highlighting the effectiveness of this clandestine operation despite Japanese and Western efforts to tighten export controls.

Russia continues to sustain its missile and drone production despite comprehensive Western sanctions, thanks to a secret procurement network established in Tokyo. An investigation by The New York Times reveals that Russian military intelligence has been using commercial companies and logistics channels in Japan to acquire high-tech, dual-use components. These parts are then transshipped through third countries to Russia, forming a critical supply line for its ongoing attacks on Ukraine.

Russia has established a secret procurement network in Tokyo, and missile parts continue to flow to Russia.

— TitleThe headline directly states the core finding of the article.

The operation is reportedly managed by the "20th Directorate" of Russia's military intelligence agency, the GRU. Personnel involved operate under the guise of diplomats or business representatives. One key operative, posing as an employee of the Russian state airline Aeroflot, was responsible for sourcing items like chips, semiconductors, communication equipment, and precision machine tools in Tokyo. Japan's advanced technology sector and comparatively less stringent anti-espionage laws have made it a crucial hub for Russia to bypass export controls.

Russia continues to obtain high-tech parts to support missile and drone production.

The article introduces the context of Russia's ability to maintain its military production despite sanctions.

According to Ukrainian government estimates, roughly 90% of Russian missiles and drones now contain Japanese-made electronic components. Ukraine has repeatedly alerted Japan, providing lists of discovered Japanese circuit boards, semiconductors, and communication elements found in Russian weaponry. Despite Japan's sanctions against Russia and expanding export restrictions, intelligence officials believe Russia continues to obtain controlled technologies through third countries and private logistics networks, undermining the sanctions' impact.

This procurement network has been operated by the '20th Directorate' of Russia's military intelligence (GRU).

The article identifies the specific Russian intelligence unit responsible for the network.

While Japan has been strengthening its counter-intelligence capabilities and enforcement against export control violations, Western intelligence agencies note that Russia's intelligence network still finds room to operate. The challenge of cutting off the flow of high-tech parts to Russia remains a significant task for nations seeking to curb its military capabilities.

Japan's well-established high-tech industry and relatively weak anti-espionage legal system have made it an important base for Russia to circumvent export controls.

The article explains why Japan became a key location for Russia's procurement efforts.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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