Sanctions Gaps: X-101 Missile Makers Still Access Critical Technologies

On the first anniversary of the attack, the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU) published data from more than 70 companies that developed and manufactured the X-101 missile and its components, from the turbojet engine and guidance system to electronics, bearings, and forgings.

The Gaze earlier reported on another war crime, when Russia targeted one of the buildings of the Okhmatdyt children's hospital with an X-101 cruise missile.

“Dozens of them are still not sanctioned by any of the countries of the sanctions coalition and retain access to equipment, components and technologies critical to missile production,” the statement noted.

The Ukrainian Intelligence Agency periodically discloses information about Russian weapons, for example, it has previously published technical information about Iran's new Shahed-136 MS series UAV, the Russian V2U artificial intelligence munition, and the S8000 Banderaol cruise missile.

Sanctions loopholes are likewise related to the production of the Russian Oreshnik ballistic missile. Speaking to journalists, Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that out of 39 companies in the Russian defense industry involved in the production of the Oreshnik, 21 are still not under sanctions. 

Despite the existence of gaps in the sanctions regime against companies associated with Russian military production, Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine argues that sanctions are effective and therefore need to be strengthened. For example, Optron-Stavropol, a company that supplied products for the military and Superjet aircraft, is on the verge of bankruptcy: fulfillment of the state defense order has caused large losses, broken contracts, seized accounts and accounts payable.

These facts clearly demonstrate that sanctions work, but they are not enough. As long as dozens of Russian companies involved in the production of missiles and drones remain outside the sanctions pressure, Moscow retains access to critical technologies.

As The Gaze reported earlier, in the wake of the recent massive Russian air assault on Ukraine, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha drew attention to the growing international entanglement in Russia’s war — pointing to the discovery of a Chinese-made component in an Iranian-designed drone used in the attack.