By Inna Popovych
Data analysis also contributed by volunteer Maksym Sydoruk

*editorial changes have been made to the material

Despite U.S. sanctions on the supply of dual-use goods to Russia, particularly CNC machines, aimed at weakening its defense capabilities, Russian procurement continues through intricate schemes involving intermediary countries such as China and Turkey. Alarmingly, even Taiwan, a strategic partner of the U.S., has been implicated in these supply chains.

On February 25, 2022, Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned Russia and announced the government’s decision to join international economic sanctions. On the same day, Taiwan’s Minister of Economic Affairs stated that exports to Russia would be strictly monitored.

Starting March 1, 2022, Taiwan began carefully controlling exports to Russia and Belarus in accordance with the Wassenaar Arrangement. In April and May 2022, Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs expanded the export control list to 57 products in ECCN categories 3 to 9, including IT systems, sensors, lasers, and aerospace technologies. In 2023, the list was further expanded to include categories 0, 1, and 2, aligning with the export policies of the European Union and the United States.

Category 2 includes materials processing tools such as CNC lathes, integrated machining centers, CNC grinding machines, EDM machines, advanced five-axis rotary tables, oscillating spindles, and controllers.

However, machinery essential for Russia’s weapons production continues to enter the country from Taiwan. The Trap Aggressor team at the StateWatch analytical center has gathered evidence confirming active trade in high-precision equipment between Taiwanese and Russian companies. This equipment is directly involved in weapons manufacturing used in the war against Ukraine.

Fedek

In late December 2024, the official YouTube channel of Russian weapon flashlight manufacturer LLC Zenit, which openly boasts of its cooperation with the Russian Ministry of Defense, published a video from its factory showing FEDEK-branded equipment produced by LNS. At least two such machines are clearly visible in the video. According to Russian customs data, machinery from this manufacturer worth nearly 5 million U.S. dollars has entered Russia since the full-scale invasion. More than half a million dollars’ worth was marked with the Fedek label.

LNS Group specializes in bar feeders and CNC lathes and has operated for over 50 years with global offices. Its Russian branch’s website is still online, though its social media presence ended in 2021. Fedek machinery continues to be shipped to Russia. The largest Taiwanese supplier is TWT GLOBAL ENTERPRISE LIMITED, a company selling machining centers and lathes.

There are many published declarations in Russian registers about the compliance of TWT GLOBAL products with the requirements of the technical regulations of the Customs Union, the last one is dated March 2024. In fact, the foreign company itself, in our case from Taiwan, can’t register or obtain anything in the Russian Federation. Therefore, these declarations are actually submitted by Russian companies, probably importers of the products.

According to the War&Sanctions portal, Fedek equipment has also been identified at the Petrovsky Plant, which manufactures specialized equipment for the Russian Navy, engineering troops, and avionics. The plant expanded production and hired new staff in 2024.

However, let us return to the video that initiated our investigation. It was published by the Zenit LLC, which openly acknowledges its material support for Russia’s military operations in Ukraine.

Zenit  LLC manufactures red-dot and thermal sights, laser target designators, and tactical firearm accessories. Its products are used by Russian armed forces, FSB (The Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation), MVD (the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation), and other agencies. Since the invasion, the company has expanded its product range and production capacity. It also donates its products to Russian troops in Ukraine. Zenit isn’t currently under sanctions in any jurisdiction.

Zenit regularly participates in state tenders for Russian security agencies.

In September 2024, it opened a new facility near Moscow. During the opening, a representative of the State Duma presented an official certificate of appreciation for the company’s charitable support, which enhances the combat capabilities and technical resources of Russian Armed Forces participating in the so-called special military operation.

“We work 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including New Year’s Eve. In today’s situation, our products are in high demand, and we can’t afford to stop even for one hour,” said Zenit’s Chief Engineer and Director Nikolay Gorbunov.

Sunmill

Zenit’s plant also uses another Taiwanese CNC machine, the JHV-550 vertical machining center from Sunmill. The video shows several of these machines.

This equipment continued to be delivered to Russia through December 2024, with a total value of nearly 5 million U.S. dollars. The manufacturer, JEENXI Technology Co., Ltd, supplied high-precision equipment directly to Russia’s military sector.

Sanctioned LLC Intervesp and Intervesp-M, long-standing contractors of Russian state institutions, were among the recipients. These companies are sanctioned by the U.S., EU, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and Ukraine.

Another recipient was Moscow-based LLC Metalmash, which specializes in metalworking machinery and signs contracts with state-owned enterprises. It is under U.S. sanctions and reported 900 million rubles in revenue in 2024.

GOLDEN

The main recipient was LLC Stanki Tekhnologii Instrument, a company that trades in metalworking equipment. It received 430,000 dollars’ worth directly from the manufacturer and the rest via the Turkish intermediary Yakimaki lojistik hizmetleri ve danismanlik dis ticaret limited sirketi.