British-made microcomputers have been discovered inside Russian drones and missiles used in Sunday’s deadly strikes on Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky has claimed, sparking renewed calls for tougher sanctions and tighter export controls.
Zelensky said the components were among more than 100,000 foreign-made parts recovered from Russian weapons, including technology originating from Germany, Japan and the United States. The revelation, he said, shows that Moscow’s war machine is still finding ways to bypass international sanctions.
“Crucial to Shut Down Every Scheme”
Writing on X (formerly Twitter), Zelensky stated:
“Microcomputers for drone flight control are produced in the United Kingdom. It is crucial to shut down every scheme that circumvents sanctions.”
He added that Ukraine’s allies already have detailed data on every company and every product that continues to end up in Russian hands.
UK Government Response
In response, Britain’s Department for Business and Trade (DBT) said it was stepping up efforts to crack down on UK firms whose products might be slipping into Russia’s supply chain.
“We take reports of goods from UK companies being found in Russian weaponry incredibly seriously,” a government spokesperson said.
They stressed that the UK has “banned the export of thousands of goods to Russia, including every battlefield item Ukraine has brought to our attention.” The spokesperson added that the UK has imposed “the most severe package of sanctions” in its history, with over £20 billion in trade now restricted.
Firms or individuals caught breaching these sanctions could face major financial penalties or even criminal prosecution, the DBT warned.
Western-Made Parts in Putin’s Arsenal
Ukraine’s latest findings echo earlier investigations that uncovered Western-made components inside Russian cruise missiles and attack drones. Alongside the British-made systems, parts from China, Taiwan, and the Netherlands have also been identified.
The discovery adds fuel to mounting concerns that sanctions loopholes and grey-market exports are keeping Russia’s weapons industry alive, despite unprecedented global restrictions.
Deadly Strikes and Mounting Losses
Sunday’s wave of attacks was among the most intense in months. Russia launched 549 missiles and drones overnight, targeting the western Lviv region. In the village of Lapaivka, a single strike killed four members of one family, including a 15-year-old girl.
Since launching its full-scale invasion in February 2022, Russia has become the most-sanctioned country in the world. Yet, despite immense pressure, its economy has adapted, fuelled by surging military spending and steady energy exports to China and India after Europe slashed its imports.
Cracks Beginning to Show
However, the strain is growing. In June, Russia’s own Minister for Economic Development, Maxim Reshetnikov, admitted the country’s economy was teetering “on the brink of recession.”
Western analysts say that while the Kremlin’s military production remains aggressive, its economic foundations are weakening, and Zelensky’s latest warning underscores just how far Russia is willing to go to keep the war machine turning.
