In Kharkiv, Chernivtsi and Odesa Regions, SBU officers exposed companies that were supplying electronic components for the production of missiles and drones to Russia in circumvention of international sanctions.
This was reported by the Security Service of Ukraine.
The companies in question are part of a large international corporation based in Russia that manufactures unique microcircuits and electronic boards used in the navigation and control systems of ballistic and cruise missiles such as X-101, Kalibr and Iskander-K.
Some of these boards are also used for guidance systems for kamikaze drones, Tornado-G multiple rocket launchers and onboard navigation of the Ka-52 attack and reconnaissance helicopter.
According to the case file, the defendants developed a plan for the systematic supply of electronic components from Ukraine to Russia, circumventing sanctions bans.
"For the successful implementation of the plan, they, substituting the end consumer of the products, bought the products in Ukraine and other countries, sent them to a controlled company in the Middle East, which is under international sanctions, and from there - to a Russian company, which is also under Western sanctions," the statement said.
The end consumers of the goods include strategic state-owned enterprises of the Russian Federation and enterprises operating within the structure of the military-industrial complex of the aggressor country, in particular JSC SpetsTechMash.
During the summer of 2022 alone, the scheme participants smuggled more than 1,500 microelectronics items to Russia, totalling more than $600,000.
"The facts of the use of Ukrainian microchips and circuit boards by the racists are confirmed by the conclusions of professional examinations based on the study of the wreckage of Russian missiles and drones," the agency added.
During the searches of the company's officials, material evidence of their work in the interests of the Kremlin was found.
The SBU has now detained one of the suspects, who also had a Russian passport. Investigators of the special service served him a notice of suspicion under Part 3 of Article 28, Part 1 of Article 111-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (aiding the aggressor state committed by an organised group).
He faces up to 12 years in prison with confiscation of property.
A notice of suspicion is being prepared for the other participants in the scheme under the same article. Comprehensive measures are underway to bring them to justice.