Dutch-made electronic components continue to be found in Russian weapons, according to an analysis of over 5,000 parts recovered by Ukrainian military intelligence, RTL Nieuws reports. The European Union banned exports of this type of technology to Russia in 2022, yet 379 components from the Netherlands, primarily chips, were detected in drones, missiles, and other systems.
Of the 32 Dutch chips with verified production dates, nearly two-thirds were manufactured after the EU export restrictions came into effect. Some of these components are less than a year old. Dutch authorities consider it “highly undesirable” that these parts continue to appear in military equipment and are working closely with Ukrainian counterparts to prevent sanctions evasion.
The Dutch government has allocated €36.5 million to strengthen compliance measures.
According to Maaike Okano-Heijmans from the Clingendael Institute and Frank Slijper, an arms trade expert at the peace organization PAX, the presence of Dutch chips does not necessarily indicate intentional violation of sanctions by manufacturers.
They claim that the main issues lie in resale through third countries, such as China, and limited oversight of component trade. Slijper explains that the relatively small number of components found does not support claims of deliberate circumvention.
Meanwhile, German companies have paid nearly €1.72 billion in taxes to Russia since the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine, according to a report by the Kyiv School of Economics (KSE), B4Ukraine, and the Squeezing Putin Initiative. Around 250 German firms remain active in the Russian market, producing goods ranging from food to building materials. In total, international companies have contributed more than €51 billion in taxes to Russia since early 2022, with German businesses among the largest contributors.
