Russia’s biggest tank maker using hundreds of Western parts - Ukraine's intelligence
Photo: Russia's largest tank manufacturer uses foreign technology (GettyImages)
Uralvagonzavod, Russia's largest manufacturer of tanks and armored vehicles, uses hundreds of pieces of foreign equipment in its production. Despite sanctions, it continues to expand its capabilities, according to the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine (HUR).
Details
The Tools of War section of the War&Sanctions portal has published information on more than 260 units of foreign high-tech equipment, including machine tools and machining centers with numerical control (CNC) used at Uralvagonzavod.
Most of this equipment was purchased during the re-equipment of the Russian military-industrial complex, which began in 2007 and continued until the full-scale invasion.
Although deliveries were made until 2022, the availability of such machines requires constant maintenance, software updates, and repairs.
According to the HUR, foreign manufacturers and their dealers can restrict the supply of spare parts and technical fluids, which could significantly affect Russia's ability to maintain military production.
Expansion of production
Despite sanctions, Uralvagonzavod continues to expand its capacity. In 2024, the plant launched a new production line for tank engines, using modern CNC machines from European manufacturers.
Such equipment still enters Russia through third countries, although the process has become more complicated, time-consuming, and expensive.
To limit Russia's production capabilities, it is necessary to consolidate international efforts, monitor compliance with sanctions, and block schemes to circumvent them.
Scale of problem
In total, the Tools of War section contains data on more than 1,400 pieces of equipment used at 169 enterprises of the Russian military-industrial complex.
In many cases, the serial numbers of the equipment are indicated, which allows manufacturers to track its path to Russia and block further deliveries of spare parts and updates.
Recently, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who visited Ukraine for the first time, was shown components of Russian weapons. Most of the weapon components are of Western or Chinese origin.
In July, an exhibition was also organized for US President Donald Trump's Special Representative for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg.
He was shown Western-made electronic components that were found in Russian weapons. They were seized from missiles, Shahed drones, and other weapons.
