Voice of America Investigative Report on the Transfer of Electronic Components for Shahed Drone Production in Russia

Voice of America has found that American and Ukrainian researchers believe that Western countries are trying to prevent the illegal transfer of Western electronic components to Russian facilities where it is said that attack drones designed by the Islamic Republic are being manufactured, but more actions need to be taken. The White House released a U.S. intelligence finding on June 8 stating that Russia receives the necessary components for producing the Islamic Republic's Shahed attack drones at a factory in the Alabuga Special Economic Zone in the Republic of Tatarstan. Russia has stated that it relies on its own resources for using drones to attack Ukraine. The Islamic Republic has confirmed that it sent its drones to Russia, but only before Moscow's attack on Ukraine. Neither the Russian embassy in Washington nor the Islamic Republic's representation at the United Nations in New York responded to inquiries sent by Voice of America regarding the Alabuga facility via email on Thursday. Researchers refer to eleven Russian companies that the U.S. Department of Commerce placed on a list of entities requiring licenses for items subject to export controls on December 6. Officials from the Department of Commerce pointed to the connection of these companies with drone production facilities in Alabuga. The department expanded U.S. export control items in February to include semiconductors and other components used by Russian and Iranian companies in drone manufacturing. David Albright, head of the Institute for Science and International Security based in Washington, one of the researchers who recently interviewed with Voice of America, said he 'applauds' the Department of Commerce for sanctioning eleven Russian companies and considers this move a sign of progress. Vladislav Vasyuk, a Ukrainian sanctions researcher who is also an advisor to the head of the Ukrainian President's office, welcomed this U.S. action. The U.S. government has not sanctioned the owner of the Alabuga factory, but several of its subsidiaries were added to the Department of Commerce's list on December 6. Albright stated that the U.S. Treasury and State Departments should sanction the owner of this factory and related companies to deter foreign companies from dealing with them. Vasyuk shares the same view. The Department of Commerce, in response to Voice of America's inquiry about the U.S. position on sanctioning the owner of Alabuga on November 28, stated: 'We do not comment on potential decisions regarding the list of sanctioned entities.' The department added that 'continuing the response to Russia's unjust war against Ukraine remains a high priority for this department' and mentioned several U.S. actions to suppress illegal networks sending chips and other items to Russia. The U.S. State Department referred Voice of America's inquiries about Alabuga to the Department of Commerce, and the Treasury Department did not respond to Voice of America's email regarding Alabuga sent on November 25. According to documentation reviewed by Albright, while more than half of the electronic components in the assembly of Shahed 136 drones in Alabuga are made by American companies, some of the remaining components come from four companies based in Europe, including one based in Switzerland, one based in the Netherlands, and one whose headquarters is in Switzerland and factory is in the Netherlands. Vasyuk also stated, 'We are in continuous contact with the Dutch government regarding sanctions, and they are very active in this matter and want to help.' He continued, 'It is a bit more complicated with Switzerland, but we are in contact with them, and they are likely to implement EU sanctions, which is good.' The Dutch Foreign Ministry, in response to Voice of America's inquiries about Alabuga and Albright's investigations, stated that preventing circumvention of sanctions aimed at making it difficult for Russia to continue its war against Ukraine is a 'priority.' After Voice of America emailed the Swiss embassy in Washington last month about this, the Swiss government did not provide any comments. A spokesperson for one of the Swiss companies stated in a statement sent to Voice of America on Saturday, 'The use of this company's products in the weapon systems of sanctioned countries is a 'clear violation' of the terms of sale to customers and distributors,' and 'we investigate any violations of this policy and will take legal action in case of violations.' A Dutch company also sent a statement to Voice of America on Friday, stating that it is committed to complying with the law and is diligently working to ensure that its products are not sent to sanctioned countries, including Russia, Iran, and Belarus, for use in weapons or systems for which its products are not designed. The European Union sanctioned 6 individuals and 5 entities in connection with the Islamic Republic's drone assistance to Russia. An American senator called for the immediate sanctioning of the Iranian drone manufacturer on Russian soil. An Israeli-owned ship was attacked by a 'suspicious Iranian drone' in the Indian Ocean. Ukraine shot down 14 Shahed drones; Zelensky: We have repeatedly told the Islamic Republic not to provide weapons to Russia. Russian drone attacks on Kyiv; Ukraine shot down 15 Iranian-made drones. A Russian drone attack caused power outages and blackouts in large areas of Ukraine. Zelensky's speech to American lawmakers; the European Union is negotiating Ukraine's membership. Ukraine claims to have shot down 'eight ballistic missiles' from Russia.