Ukraine reports more local components appearing in Russian missiles

Debris from Russian missiles falling on Ukrainian territory increasingly contains electronics manufactured in Russia and Belarus.

According to Vladyslav Vlasiuk, commissioner for sanctions policy and an adviser to the President, this indicates that Russia is gradually replacing Western microchips and parts that were previously relied upon through smuggling.

Western countries have sought to limit Russia’s access to modern components and chips for weapons, but Moscow is finding ways to compensate for the shortage using domestic and Belarusian technologies.

“In the 2025 Iskander, compared to the 2022 Iskander, there are fewer European and US (components), and more from Russia and Belarus,” Vlasyuk said. He added that the quality of local microchips is still lower than Western counterparts, but this does not reduce the combat capabilities of the missiles.

The ballistic version of the missile remains extremely difficult to intercept due to its speed, which exceeds the speed of sound, while the cruise variants move more slowly and are easier to detect.

Although Belarus does not take a direct part in combat, the country remains a key ally of Russia, providing its territory for launching operations at the start of the 2022 invasion.

Thomas Rövekamp, head of the Bundestag’s Defense Committee, proposed supplying Ukraine with long-range weapons and obtaining permission to destroy Russian drones before they penetrate the country’s airspace.

Russian forces continue to violate the rules of warfare by using chemical weapons on Ukrainian territory. Journalists have identified specific Russian units that possess such weapons and use them against Ukrainian defenders.