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DONATE NOW<\/a><\/p>\n The outlet reported that the issue resurfaced in\u00a0January 2026\u00a0during the analysis of\u00a0a\u00a0new Russian jet-powered drone, the Geran-5. Ukrainian military intelligence later published details on\u00a0its War&Sanctions portal, documenting foreign-made components recovered from dismantled Russian weapons systems.<\/p>\n According to\u00a0data cited by\u00a0Deutsche Welle from Ukraine\u2019s Defense Intelligence (HUR), 137\u00a0components manufactured in\u00a0Germany have been recorded in\u00a0Russian military equipment. More than half of\u00a0them were found in\u00a0drones, with the remainder identified in\u00a0missiles, radar systems, military vehicles, and helicopters.<\/p>\n The most common German components are transistors\u2014around 50\u00a0different types. Other parts include pumps, inductors, generators, capacitors, transformers, and batteries.<\/p>\n According to\u00a0Deutsche Welle, the Bavarian semiconductor company Infineon Technologies accounts for 58\u00a0of\u00a0the 137\u00a0German-made components documented by\u00a0HUR, most of\u00a0them transistors used in\u00a0UAVs. <\/p>\n Additional parts were traced to\u00a0EPCOS AG\u00a0(now TDK Electronics), W\u00fcrth Elektronik, and Pierburg, a\u00a0subsidiary of\u00a0Rheinmetall. In\u00a0the Geran-2 drone, investigators found three Pierburg pumps. Bosch components\u2014including a\u00a0push-button switch and a\u00a0fuel pump\u2014were also identified in\u00a0certain UAV models.<\/p>\n Ukrainian intelligence estimates that each Geran-series drone contains between eight and twelve German-made transistors in\u00a0its onboard control system. HUR previously stated that Russia planned to\u00a0produce 40,000 Geran-2 drones in\u00a02025. Based on\u00a0these figures, nearly half a\u00a0million German-made transistors could have been required for one year of\u00a0production alone.<\/p>\n A\u00a0HUR representative told Deutsche Welle that Russian manufacturers do\u00a0not remove original markings from the components, indicating large-scale and systematic\u00a0use.<\/p>\n \u201cInfineon transistors are used in\u00a0a\u00a0wide range of\u00a0household appliances and general-purpose goods, so, apparently, there are no\u00a0problems purchasing them in\u00a0the required quantities,\u201d the representative said.<\/p>\n Read more<\/p>\n How $1.1M in\u00a0Banned Bearings from Slovak Firm Kinex Slipped Into Russia\u2019s War Arsenal<\/a><\/p>\n \n Jul 08, 2025 13:07\n <\/p>\n Ukrainian intelligence also noted that while Russia has reduced reliance on\u00a0US\u00a0components\u2014reportedly replacing some of\u00a0them with Chinese alternatives\u2014German transistors continue to\u00a0be\u00a0widely used due to\u00a0their availability and reliability.<\/p>\n According to\u00a0Deutsche Welle, HUR believes that many of\u00a0the German-made transistors are purchased directly in\u00a0Germany through intermediary companies designed to\u00a0obscure supply chains. From there, components are routed either through third countries or\u00a0via smuggling channels into Russia.<\/p>\n However, German sanctions expert Professor Viktor Winkler offered a\u00a0different assessment. According to\u00a0Deutsche Welle, he\u00a0said that after 2022, deliveries increasingly bypass third countries and instead involve direct criminal intermediaries operating inside Germany.<\/p>\n Read more<\/p>\n How Canadian-Made Rifles Are Arming Russian Troops Despite Sanctions and Export Bans<\/a><\/p>\n \n Nov 01, 2025 14:19\n <\/p>\n \u201cMy\u00a0assumption is\u00a0that this is\u00a0not about a\u00a0third country or\u00a0indirect supply routes, but rather about an\u00a0extremely criminal direct connection, where offenders supply components from other companies to\u00a0Russia. Similar cases have always been characterized by\u00a0pre-planned, long-term business ties with Russia,\u201d Winkler told Deutsche Welle.<\/p>\n Earlier, a\u00a0joint investigation by\u00a0Frontelligence Insight and the analytical group Dallas, published<\/a> on\u00a0February 9, found that Russia\u2019s expansion of\u00a0artillery production at\u00a0Plant No. 9\u00a0in\u00a0Yekaterinburg relies heavily on\u00a0high-precision industrial machinery sourced from Western Europe and Taiwan. <\/p>\n The report states that despite sanctions, \u201cnearly all critical stages of\u00a0manufacturing at\u00a0Plant No. 9\u2026 still rely on\u00a0high-precision industrial equipment from Europe and East Asia,\u201d highlighting continued dependence on\u00a0foreign technology for key weapons systems.<\/p>\n![\"German-made](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/b133af1d3a53f6dfd300fe9b64dc7502.jpg\" "\\"German-made")
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\n German-made transistors from a\u00a0Russian UAV control system displayed by\u00a0a\u00a0Ukrainian military intelligence officer to\u00a0Deutsche Welle. (Source: Mykola Berdnyk\/DW)<\/p>\n![\"Image](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0a23a6f18be499e62a5233629725a952.jpg\" "\\"Image")
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\n Image released by\u00a0Ukrainian military intelligence showing a\u00a0Russian Geran-5 drone shot down over Ukraine, where Infineon transistors were identified. (Source: DW)<\/p>\n![\"How](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/660c814ec46670e9793b45f6d1cb7605.png\")
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