Russia uses Chinese and Western machinery to produce ballistic missiles, Ukrainian intelligence says

HUR identified 30 pieces of foreign-made equipment used by Russian enterprises manufacturing ballistic missiles and their components, including altimeters, aerodynamic control surfaces and gyroscopes.

The newly disclosed equipment originates from China, Germany, Taiwan, the United States, Türkiye, Switzerland and Italy, according to the agency.

Among the examples is a GX-650 five-axis machining center made by China's Hyper Machine Tool, which HUR says is used at Russia's Votkinsk Plant. The facility manufactures Iskander-M ballistic missiles and missile sections for the air-launched Kinzhal weapon.

Chinese-made Shtral turning and milling centers are also used at the Molot enterprise, which produces electronic equipment modules for Iskander-M missiles, the agency reported.

HUR additionally identified measuring equipment manufactured by Germany's Rohde & Schwarz at the Detal enterprise, which produces altimeters for Zircon missiles.

Foreign components inside Chinese machinery

Ukrainian intelligence says Russian defense manufacturers are increasingly using Chinese machine tools, including advanced five-axis machining centers.

However, these machines often incorporate components produced in Europe, Japan and Taiwan, including computer numerical control systems, servo drives, precision spindles, bearings and measuring systems.

HUR said Russia remains heavily dependent on foreign industrial technologies and has been unable to replace much of this equipment with domestically manufactured alternatives.

The agency published the findings on its War&Sanctions portal, which listed 1,698 machine tools and 223 factories as of October 26.

Calls for tighter export controls

HUR urged governments and manufacturers to strengthen checks on the final destinations and end users of industrial equipment, including on-site inspections.

It also called for tighter controls on replacement parts, software, technical fluids, maintenance services and other supplies needed to keep industrial machinery operating.

The agency recommended regular audits of distributors and intermediaries, investigations into possible re-export schemes and restrictions on supplying critical components to Chinese manufacturers whose machinery reaches Russian defense plants.

The presence of foreign-made equipment at Russian defense facilities does not, by itself, establish that the original manufacturers knowingly supplied Russia's military industry or violated sanctions.

The newly disclosed equipment and associated manufacturers are listed on HUR's War&Sanctions database.