Japan becomes new Russian special forces' hub for sanctioned technology — The Japan Times

After the outbreak of full-scale war, Western countries expelled hundreds of Russian spies who had been operating under diplomatic cover. However, according to Western intelligence agencies, some of them have found a new base of operations in Japan.

How GRU Relocated its network to Japan

According to Ukrainian authorities, about 90% of Russian missiles and drones contain Japanese components. This is precisely why Japan has become one of the key targets for Russian military intelligence, which is attempting to obtain advanced technology while circumventing sanctions.

As the agency reports, a secret GRU unit, the 20th Directorate, is behind these activities.

Its officers, posing as diplomats or businessmen, seek out advanced technologies needed by the Russian military-industrial complex and then smuggle them into Russia to circumvent sanctions.

GRU officer under Aeroflot cover

In Tokyo, according to Western intelligence agencies, this network is led by GRU officer Maxim Filchenkov, who officially works for the Russian airline Aeroflot.

The agency notes that the Aeroflot office where, according to intelligence reports, Filchenkov works is located just a ten-minute walk from the headquarters of Japan’s National Police Agency, which investigates espionage.

Journalists visited this office three times but were unable to speak with Filchenkov—during their last visit, he had a female employee convey that he did not wish to speak.

According to journalists, a GRU officer is seeking partners among Japanese logistics companies to transport goods to third countries and, from there, to Russia.

The investigation identifies Proco Air as one such company. It transports cargo to countries where Aeroflot operates, specifically to Sri Lanka and Uzbekistan, from where the goods can make their way to Russia.

The company’s owner denied knowing about Filchenkov’s ties to Russian intelligence and stated that he transports only authorized cargo.

At the same time, journalists found documents confirming the company’s collaboration with the Russian firm R-Pharm, whose founder is subject to sanctions from several Western countries.

Japanese components in Russian missiles

Another detail highlighted by the agency concerns the strikes on Ukraine. After a Russian Kh-101 missile struck a residential building in Kyiv, Ukrainian investigators found Japanese electronic components among the debris, components whose export to Russia is prohibited.

It was following such incidents that Ukraine began regularly sending diplomatic notes to Tokyo with evidence of the use of Japanese parts in Russian weapons and calls to tighten export controls.

In April 2025 alone, Kyiv sent at least 8 diplomatic notes to the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs listing the parts found in missiles and drones following strikes on Ukrainian cities.

Despite this, as the agency notes, Japan has not yet taken any action against Filchenkov. The Japanese government states that it is cooperating with its Western allies to strengthen export controls, and Japanese companies assert that they are complying with sanctions and are not supplying their products to Russia.

At the same time, according to Western intelligence agencies, the Russian network for procuring technology in the country continues to operate.

Russia plans to import jet fuel from Japan through a network of trading intermediaries.

According to Reuters, the Kremlin was forced to take this step due to fuel shortages following Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries.