The losses of materials on the front, and the considerable consumption of ammunition begin to be felt hard in the war.
And economic sanctions are not helping Russia.
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According to the US government, the Russians are now using semiconductors recovered from dishwashers or refrigerators to circumvent economic sanctions that prevent it from replenishing its stocks of electronic components, essential for renewing its military equipment.
“
Reports have told us that Ukrainians have found Russian military equipment at the front full of semiconductors removed from dishwashers and refrigerators
,” Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo told a Senate hearing. American, reports the
Washington Post
.
The global shortage of semiconductors, these electronic components essential to operate our cars, televisions or computers, has affected manufacturers since the start of the health crisis and has worsened since the start of the war in Ukraine.
Double trouble for Russia, which is deprived at the same time of importing these products from Western countries.
The export of American technologies to Russia has thus fallen by nearly 70% since the start of the sanctions imposed in February, Gina Raimondo indicated to the senators.
Sanctions have in fact been reinforced for telecommunications equipment, semiconductors and high-tech avionics or maritime equipment.
And today, the overall number of American products exported to Russia has fallen by 85%, according to statements by Commerce Department spokesperson Robyn Patterson, quoted by The
Washington Post
.
Essential components for weapons
Semiconductors are essential for the production of military equipment and in particular precision missiles, as demonstrated in particular by British researchers from the
Royal United Services Institute for Defense and Security Studies
(RUSI) who went to dissect the carcasses of gear in Ukraine.
Precision missiles, namely cruise missiles and short- and medium-range ballistic or semi-ballistic missiles that can be guided, are essential for Russia, which must feed, in the war of attrition it is waging in Ukraine, its powerful artillery which continues to pound the Ukrainian lines in the Donbass.
And the Russian army has already used a large part of these precision missiles.
“
They are struggling to replace them
,” a senior Pentagon official said recently at a press conference.
This type of weapon indeed requires materials that Russia imports, mainly from Western countries.
"
We believe that the sanctions and restrictions on exports, particularly in terms of electronic components, have an effect on the Russian defense industry sector
", added the senior official.
Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo also referred to recent reports during the Senate hearing, reports The
Washington Post
, that two Russian battle tank manufacturers were forced to halt production due to component shortages. electronics.
Read alsoDid Russia and China really make a “pact”?
If the Russians therefore seem to suffer from a serious supply shortage in this area, they are in any case not the only ones.
“
The shortage of chips fuels inflation.
Demand is up 20%, and supply is not keeping up.
The chips are used in lifesaving equipment in hospitals.
Lives are at stake
, ”also alerted Gina Raimondo.
The Democrat supports the
Bipartisan Innovation Act
, a bill aimed at improving U.S. manufacturing and supply chains.
In Europe, the EU has released significant funds on its side to help manufacturers and quadruple the production of semiconductors.