Despite strict international sanctions, Russia has found a way to keep importing crucial American microchips that are used in missiles, drones, and surveillance technology. These microchips, known as FPGAs (Field-Programmable Gate Arrays), are mainly produced by big U.S. companies like Intel and AMD. The sale of these chips to Russia for military use was banned in 2020, and a broader embargo was put in place in 2022, stopping all chip exports to Russia. Yet, somehow, these chips are still making their way into Russia.

Why Russia Needs These Microchips

FPGAs are incredibly important for modern technology. They help power everything from missile navigation systems and drones to radar equipment and internet censorship tools. Russia doesn’t produce these advanced chips locally and relies heavily on U.S. FPGAs for its defense and surveillance systems. For instance, the missiles and drones Russia uses to attack Ukrainian cities are equipped with these chips, despite sanctions mean...