Russia’s Access to Sensitive Goods via Indian Supply Chains

Recent findings suggest that Russian defense and security firms have gained access to over 50,000 sensitive items produced in the UK and EU by utilizing Indian supply routes.

These goods reportedly made their way to Russia through India, being employed in various defense and military applications.

According to a report from Strider Technologies, an intelligence and risk management firm based in London, Russia has devised a plan to bypass existing sanctions and secure a large number of critical items needed for drones, missiles, and aerospace technologies.

The report indicates that starting in 2022, Russian entities have been capitalizing on Europe’s trade and manufacturing relationships with India to import security-related items via Indian intermediaries. A lot of these products are purportedly of European origin.

Strider Technologies noted a significant surge in exports from the UK, stating that sensitive goods shipped from India to Russia increased by 180% from 2022 to 2025, in comparison to the 2019-2021 period. Likewise, exports of delicate items from Sweden and Switzerland saw rises of 455% and 131%, respectively, during the same timeframe.

Additionally, the firm highlighted that similar items from allied non-European countries experienced impressive growth as well: a 529% increase from Australia, 459% from the United States, 253% from Japan, and 180% from Canada from 2022 to 2025.

The potential exists for sensitive components made in the UK and EU to be assembled into completed products in India and then shipped to Russia. This risk is particularly pronounced now that both nations are exporting to the EU following a free trade agreement between England and the European Union.

Strider Technologies emphasized that as India solidifies its position as a manufacturing and import hub for Western products, it increasingly serves as a critical transit point for Russia’s strategies to navigate sanctions. They further cautioned that European companies working in India might inadvertently expose themselves to risks.

David Vigneault, the chief information officer at Strider Technologies and a former director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Agency, mentioned that while the EU and UK’s trade deal with India fosters bonds with an essential growth market, there’s also a pressing need for both governments and businesses to clearly understand the associated opportunities and competitive landscape.

Vigneault remarked, “Our research indicates that Russia utilizes several of these same manufacturing, research, and technology ecosystems to maintain access to crucial capabilities and dodge sanctions.”

Nicholas Fenton, the deputy director of the Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, pointed out that the connection between Russia and India dates back to the Soviet era during the Cold War. He noted that India continues to be a substantial arms customer for Russia, which has come to rely on India’s supply chains in support of its military efforts.

Fenton suggested that this scenario is likely to persist, noting that Russian weapon systems, including drones, have been found with Western components inside them, as evidenced by Ukrainian captures of such technologies.