A scheme to supply equipment for the production of Russian missiles was uncovered in Austria
Austrian counterintelligence has uncovered an international scheme used to supply equipment for the production of cruise missile engines and fighter jets to Russia, circumventing EU sanctions.
According to the investigation, a Vienna-based company was established specifically to purchase and export computer numerical control (CNC) machines and specialized metalworking tools to Russia. A network of companies in Turkey, the UAE, Hong Kong, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, South Korea, Poland, and Lithuania was used to conceal the shipments.
Investigators determined that the equipment was received by companies affiliated with the Russian state-owned conglomerate Rostec, where it was used to manufacture military equipment, including engines for cruise missiles and fighter jets.
In May, Austrian law enforcement authorities detained a 28-year-old Belarusian citizen who headed the company. During searches, equipment worth approximately 140,000 euros was seized. According to investigators’ estimates, since 2022, more than 3.3 million euros worth of sanctioned goods have been illegally supplied to the Russian defense industry.
Source: Austrian Ministry of the Interior.
As a reminder, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked the U.S. Senate for supporting a bill on new sanctions against Russia and Iran. He stated that strong economic pressure on Moscow is what can help bring the war to a quicker end.
The U.S. Senate approved a sweeping bill imposing new sanctions against Russia and Iran. The bill passed with 68 votes in favor and nine against, and will now be considered by the U.S. House of Representatives.
