A covert Russian military intelligence network has been using Japan as a key hub to acquire sensitive electronic components for missiles and drones despite sweeping Western sanctions, according to a New York Times investigation that raises fresh concerns over Moscow's ability to sustain its war in Ukraine through global supply chains.
The investigation, published on Saturday, said operatives linked to Russia's military intelligence agency, known as the GRU, established procurement networks in Japan after hundreds of suspected Russian intelligence officers were expelled from Europe following Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Citing current and former officials from multiple Western intelligence agencies, the report said the operation is overseen by the GRU's little-known 20th Directorate, a unit tasked with acquiring foreign technology and supporting Russia's military-industrial complex.
Operatives allegedly used commercial cover, front companies and intermediary countries to obtain dual-use electronics before routing them to Russia.
The investigation identified Tokyo as a strategic base for the network because of Japan's sophisticated electronics industry and what intelligence officials described as comparatively weak espionage laws, making it easier for Russian operatives to conduct procurement activities than in many Western countries.
According to the report, Ukrainian authorities estimate that Japanese-made components are found in roughly 90 percent of Russian missiles and attack drones recovered on the battlefield, underscoring the continued dependence of Moscow's weapons industry on imported technology despite years of export restrictions.
The investigation highlighted one example from May this year, when investigators examining the wreckage of a Russian Kh-101 cruise missile that struck a residential building in Kyiv reportedly discovered Japanese-made electronic components in its guidance system, despite export controls intended to prevent such transfers.
The report said many of the components are not shipped directly to Russia. Instead, they are allegedly routed through intermediary countries and companies, exploiting gaps in international export enforcement while masking their ultimate destination.
Japan has been among Ukraine's strongest supporters in Asia, joining Western sanctions against Russia, providing humanitarian and financial assistance, and tightening export controls on sensitive technologies since the invasion began.
However, the investigation suggests enforcement challenges remain as Russian procurement networks adapt to sanctions through increasingly complex global supply chains.
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