A Chinese company with a production facility in California has been sending hundreds of shipments of restricted dual-use electronics to Russia since Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, including supplies to companies sanctioned for links to the Russian military.
Yangzhou Yangjie Electronic Technology Company, based in Yangzhou, China, has made over 200 shipments to Russia since February 2022, according to customs documents obtained by C4ADS, a global data analysis organization. These shipments included high-priority electronic components considered critical for Russian weapon systems, including diodes and transistors used in military guidance systems.
One such component, produced by Yangjie, was found in a Russian weapon guidance system in Ukraine. The UMPK system, used to guide air-dropped bombs, has been employed by Russia in devastating attacks against Ukraine.
Yangjie’s shipments also reached Simmetron, a Russian electronics company hit by U.S. sanctions in May 2023. At least 173 shipments were made to Simmetron, further deepening concerns about China’s role in supporting Russia’s war efforts. Despite international scrutiny, China has continued to supply dual-use technologies to Russia, even after issuing new export controls in October 2023.
Yangjie’s ties to California are also noteworthy. The company acquired U.S.-based Micro Commercial Components in 2015, which produces semiconductors that could be used in military technologies. Micro’s headquarters in Simi Valley, California, remains compliant with U.S. sanctions, but its association with Yangjie raises questions about the potential flow of sensitive components to Russia.
The ongoing flow of Chinese-made electronics to Russia underscores the challenges Western nations face in limiting Russia’s access to critical technologies, essential for its military operations in Ukraine.
