NextFin news, Ukrainian specialists have observed an increasing presence of Russian and Belarusian components in missiles used by Russian forces against Ukraine, according to reports on Saturday from Kyiv. This development reflects Russia's attempts to replace Western microchips and parts, which were previously obtained through smuggling, with locally produced technology.
Vladyslav Vlasiuk, adviser to the President of Ukraine and commissioner for sanctions policy, stated that debris from Russian missiles falling on Ukrainian territory more frequently contains electronics manufactured in Russia and Belarus. He noted that in the 2025 versions of the Iskander missile, there are significantly fewer Western components compared to the 2022 models, with a growing share of Russian and Belarusian parts.
Western countries have imposed sanctions to limit Russia's access to modern components and microchips for weaponry, but Moscow has been compensating for shortages by increasing the use of domestic and Belarusian technologies. Although the quality of these local microchips is currently lower than Western equivalents, Vlasiuk emphasized that this does not diminish the combat effectiveness of the missiles.
The ballistic variant of the Iskander missile remains difficult to intercept due to its supersonic speed, while the cruise missile versions travel slower and are easier to detect. Belarus, while not directly involved in combat, continues to be a key ally of Russia by providing territory for launching operations since the beginning of the 2022 invasion.
These findings were reported by RBC-Ukraine and UNIAN, citing Reuters as the original source. The information was released on Saturday, September 13, 2025, from Kyiv, Ukraine.
Additionally, Thomas Rövekamp, head of the Bundestag’s Defense Committee in Germany, has proposed supplying Ukraine with long-range weapons and securing permission to destroy Russian drones before they enter Ukrainian airspace.
Reports also indicate that Russian forces continue to violate the laws of war by using chemical weapons on Ukrainian territory, with specific Russian units identified as possessing and deploying such armaments against Ukrainian defenders.
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