Western Components Found in Russian Missile in Devastating Attack On a Childrens Hospital

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In the recent devastating attack on a Kyiv children's hospital, a type of Russian missile known as the Kh-101 was identified, highlighting Russia's reliance on Western-designed components despite sanctions. Captured on camera moments before it hit the cancer hospital, the Kh-101 is one of Russia's most advanced cruise missiles, crucial to its ongoing airstrike campaign against Ukraine.

 

The Kremlin has managed to evade sanctions by incorporating microprocessors and other technology not originally intended for military use. Ukrainian officials and experts have pointed out that Western technology has enabled Russia to develop smarter missiles, allowing their attacks to bypass Ukraine's strained air defenses. Olena Bilousova, a research lead on sanctions at the KSE Institute in Kyiv, noted that although sanctions have limited Russia's access to some advanced components, the country's defense sector has adapted by using commercially available technology.

 

An analysis of a Kh-101 missile fired in January revealed it contained 16 pieces of Western-made electronics, including components from Swiss-headquartered STMicroelectronics and U.S. chipmakers Texas Instruments, Analog Devices, and Intel. These components, primarily intended for civilian use, were found to have been purchased on the open market and imported via China, despite being labeled as Western-made.

 

A single missile's wreckage likely underestimates Russia's dependence on foreign parts. A comprehensive analysis by the Office of the President of Ukraine indicated that a complete Kh-101 could contain over 50 different foreign-produced components. The recent large-scale attack on Ukrainian infrastructure, commercial, and residential buildings resulted in at least 41 civilian deaths and over 190 injuries. Russia denied targeting the hospital, instead claiming, without evidence, that Ukraine struck it using a U.S. and Norway-supplied Nasams air defense system.

 

Despite Russia's denials, experts like Pavel Luzin, a visiting scholar at Tufts University's Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, insist that Russian missiles almost always hit their intended targets. Luzin stated, "If a Russian missile hit a hospital, that means Russia’s military targeted a hospital." Additionally, Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova accused Ukraine of placing anti-air systems in residential areas, though no evidence supports these claims.

 

Footage of the missile before impact confirmed it was a Kh-101, recognizable by its distinctive wings, nose, fuselage shape, and externally mounted turbofan engine. There were no signs of damage from air defenses or other missiles, suggesting the attack was deliberate. Fabian Hoffmann, a doctoral research fellow at the University of Oslo, emphasized that the missile's appearance indicated it was on a controlled flight path, reinforcing the notion of a targeted attack.

 

In the year before Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, only 56 Kh-101 missiles were produced. However, after ramping up production, Russia manufactured 420 Kh-101s last year. This increase, reported by the Royal United Services Institute, a British defense think-tank, underscores Russia's ability to produce large quantities of missiles despite sanctions. Oleksandr Lytvynenko, secretary of Ukraine's national security and defense council, noted that while Western sanctions are effective, the quality of Russia's weapons has diminished.

 

 

The U.S. has attempted to disrupt Russia's defense supply chains, making it more challenging for Russia to obtain advanced Western technology. Consequently, Russian manufacturers have turned to civilian components, which lack the resilience and protection of military-grade electronics. Hoffmann estimated that the failure rate of Russian cruise missiles could be as high as 20%, due to smuggled components' inability to provide accurate guidance or withstand subsonic flight conditions.

 

 

Despite these challenges, Ukraine's air defenses continue to struggle against large-scale missile barrages. During Monday's attack, Ukraine's air force reported downing 30 out of 38 missiles. The evidence indicates that the Kh-101 missile hit its intended target, with no visible damage on the fuselage or signs of interference from air defenses.

 

Russia's increased missile production from March to June saw the launch of 446 missiles, compared to 423 during the same period the previous year. Of these, 304 were Kh-101s or their Soviet predecessor, the Kh-555. Luzin suggested that Russia might be using older components to maintain production rates, with engines like the R95 potentially substituting for the Kh-101's more advanced TRDD-50A engine.

 

 

Western components, although not military-grade, are still being acquired by Russia through front companies in the Middle East and Southeast Asia. The U.S. has stringent export controls on items made using its technology, but enforcing these rules is challenging. While major suppliers have not been found in breach of export controls, components can be resold by buyers who disregard the regulations.

 

 

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine plans to address the issue of Western components in Russian missiles with leaders at the upcoming NATO summit in Washington. The Semiconductor Industry Association, representing U.S. chipmakers, emphasized that its members are committed to compliance programs to prevent misuse of their products. However, these measures alone cannot stop intentional product diversion, counterfeiting, and misuse.

 

Credit: Financial Times 2024-07-11

 

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[thaibeachlovers]

9 hours ago, Social Media said:

Despite Russia's denials, experts like Pavel Luzin, a visiting scholar at Tufts University's Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, insist that Russian missiles almost always hit their intended targets. Luzin stated, "If a Russian missile hit a hospital, that means Russia’s military targeted a hospital."

 

 

9 hours ago, Social Media said:

Consequently, Russian manufacturers have turned to civilian components, which lack the resilience and protection of military-grade electronics. Hoffmann estimated that the failure rate of Russian cruise missiles could be as high as 20%, due to smuggled components' inability to provide accurate guidance or withstand subsonic flight conditions.

 

 

experts like Pavel Luzin, a visiting scholar at Tufts University's Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, insist that Russian missiles almost always hit their intended targets

 

Hoffmann estimated that the failure rate of Russian cruise missiles could be as high as 20%,

 

Seems there is some confusion in the western propaganda machine.