Russian Su-34 and Su-35S fighter jets, assembled with Western microchips, continue attacking civilian targets in Ukraine. Despite sanctions, the Kremlin continues receiving Western technology through "gray" schemes - new investigative report.

This is according to the document "PARTS OF THE PROBLEM: Tracing Western Tech in Russia's Deadliest Jets." The report was presented by the International Partnership for Human Rights (IPHR) in collaboration with NAKO (Independent Anti-Corruption Commission) and Hunterbrook Media.

On the night of July 5, Ukrainian Defense Forces struck the "Borisoglebsk" airfield in Voronezh region, where Su-34, Su-35S, and Su-30SM aircraft are based. A guided aerial bomb storage facility was destroyed, along with likely several aircraft. Earlier, on June 27, they attacked the "Marinovka" airfield in Volgograd region-destroying at least four Su-34s. These models are the primary carriers of high-precision aerial bombs that Russia uses to shell Ukrainian schools, hospitals, and residential buildings.

"PARTS OF THE PROBLEM: Tracing Western Tech in Russia's Deadliest Jets" provides detailed analysis of over 60 air attacks by Russian Su-34 and Su-35S fighters, including 10 cases in Kharkiv, Kherson, Sumy, and Chernihiv regions. These strikes killed 26 civilians and wounded 109 more. All these cases may qualify as war crimes. IPHR has documented over 24,000 attacks on Ukrainian civilians and objects since Russia launched its full-scale invasion three years ago.

NAKO identified and established the origin of 1,115 out of 1,119 electronic components in the aircraft. These include products from Texas Instruments, Analog Devices, Intel, Murata, Maxim, OnSemi, Vicor, and other global manufacturers. The main producing countries are the United States, Germany, Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea. Components reach Russia through a complex network of Russian importers and foreign suppliers, including intermediaries and shell companies in China, Hong Kong, Turkey, UAE, and certain EU countries.

As noted by NAKO Executive Director Olena Tregub: "Our findings are unambiguous: Russian aircraft committing probable war crimes are assembled with Western microchips. Companies from democratic countries have a moral obligation to strengthen control over their supply chains."

The report also outlines specific recommendations: strengthen export controls on microelectronics, introduce mandatory end-user verification (KYC/KYB), improve interstate coordination, and restrict the operations of "gray" distributors.

You can read the full report at the following link: https://iphronline.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/jets-report-2025-final.pdf

International Partnership for Human Rights (IPHR) is an independent, nongovernmental organization founded in 2008. It works closely with civil society groups in Eastern Europe, South Caucasus, and Central Asia to raise human rights concerns at the international level and promote respect for the rights of vulnerable communities. IPHR has been documenting atrocity crimes committed in the context of Russia's war on Ukraine since 2014 and uses collected evidence for accountability purposes.

Hunterbrook is an investigative media newsroom that publishes open source investigative journalism without ads or paywalls, aiming to shed light on under-covered stories and hold wrongdoers accountable worldwide. Guided by an advisory board that includes former leaders of major news outlets and supported by mission-aligned investors, Hunterbrook Media operates with complete editorial independence from its affiliated fund.

The Independent Anti-Corruption Commission (NAKO)
Address: Ukraine, 01133 Kyiv, Yevhena Konovaltsia Str. 34a, office 278
Yuliia Biehlietsova, Senior Communications Manager
ybiehlietsova@nako.org.ua |
+380 66 711 63 03

Independent Anti-Corruption Commission (NAKO) is a Ukrainian civil society organization that has been fighting corruption in the security and defense sector since 2016. Since the start of the full-scale invasion, NAKO has focused on identifying Western components in weapons used by Russia, Iran, and North Korea, as well as formulating proposals for EU, US, and UK sanctions lists. Organization representatives are members of the Public Anti-Corruption Council under the Ministry of Defense and coordinate the Public Council on Sanctions under the Office of the President of Ukraine.

This release was published on openPR.