Around 90% of Russian cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, and drones include Japanese components, Ukrainian Presidential Commissioner for Sanctions Vladyslav Vlasiuk says, Japanese outlet 47News reports, citing Kyodo News. The official has shared the names of 13 Japanese companies whose products were found in Russian weapons with the journalists.
Of the 13 Japanese companies named in the documents, six did not respond to journalists' inquiries. Five said they could not confirm whether their products were used. One said its subsidiary's products were "likely" used, and one said the parts were from other manufacturers.
Kh-101 cruise missile uses components from major Japanese semiconductor makers
The internal Ukrainian government documents Vlasiuk provided to the journalists indicated that the Russian Kh-101 cruise missile uses electronic components from major Japanese semiconductor and electronics manufacturers.
The Kh-101 is Russia's long-range air-launched cruise missile used in numerous strikes on Ukrainian cities that contains more than 100 foreign-made components in total.
Japanese-made optoisolators have been specifically identified in Russian cruise missiles alongside components from the US, Switzerland, Germany, the UK, China, Taiwan, and South Korea. Russian drones striking Ukrainian cities in late April 2026 carried 2026-made components from six countries, including Japan.
Vlasiuk calls for tightened Japanese controls on dual-use exports
Most components used in Russian weapons are electronic parts sold in Japan as civilian products, according to Vlasiuk. Civilian dual-use components are suspected of being exported via third countries, bypassing existing controls, and then applied for military purposes, he said.
"Russia likely uses the complexity of controlling such dual-use goods to apply them in military developments," Vlasiuk said.
Vlasiuk called for strengthened Japanese export controls. The pattern fits the broader picture of unsanctioned Japanese, German, and Swiss machine tools inside Russian missile factories: in April 2026, Ukraine's Defense Intelligence identified 66 units of foreign technological equipment, including from Japanese makers, keeping Russian weapons production running despite sanctions, per Euromaidan Press.
