Russia's Import Of Key Explosives Ingredient Surge Despite Western Sanctions: Report

Russia ramped up imports of an explosive compound vital in the production of munitions, despite sanctions by Western countries aimed at curbing its military capabilities in the ongoing conflict with Ukraine.

What Happened: Russia has reportedly doubled the imports of explosive compound, nitrocellulose, from Western countries, bypassing international sanctions, The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday.

This compound is critical for manufacturing artillery ammunition.

During 2022, the first year of the invasion of Ukraine, Russia’s imports of nitrocellulose jumped by 70%. By mid-2023, the volume had nearly doubled compared to 2021, reaching 3,039 tons.

This surge comes despite a shortage and rising prices of nitrocellulose, which is essential for producing artillery ammunition and is subject to international trade restrictions.

According to U.S. officials and analysts, these imports are critical for Moscow’s military operations in Ukraine.

Despite its civilian applications, the increased imports are believed to be for arms production, as the Russian economy has pivoted to wartime production. Oleksandr Danylyuk of the Center of Defense Reforms highlighted that the military is driving these imports for projectile production or as a substitute for domestic production.

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Following sanctions from the U.S. and the European Union, China has upped its supply of nitrocellulose to Russia. However, companies from the U.S., Germany, and Taiwan have also contributed to the shipments over the past two years. A Chinese embassy spokesperson stated that China’s trade with Russia is prudent and does not target any third party.

A significant portion of these imports has been facilitated by a small Turkish company, Noy İç Ve Diş Ti̇caret, which became a major supplier after the invasion. International Flavors & Fragrances, a New York-based company, expressed surprise that its suspended shipments continued through a third party and is reviewing the sale conditions.

German company Hagedorn and Taiwanese company TNC Industrial were named as producers of nitrocellulose shipped to Russia, both claiming their products are for civilian use and below military-grade.

Why It Matters: The report comes as NATO countries face a nitrocellulose shortage impacting their own munitions production for Ukraine. The U.S. Commerce Department and the Treasury Department have taken steps to restrict Russia’s access to such materials and have imposed sanctions on entities supporting Russia’s military-industrial base.

The substantial increase in Russian imports of nitrocellulose holds significant implications for the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. In a recent address, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that while Russia has no plans to attack NATO countries, there would be repercussions for the deployment of F-16 fighters in Ukraine.

Earlier, China’s special envoy for Eurasian affairs, Li Hui, suggested that negotiations, not military engagement, would be the path to resolving the war.

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