"Her discovery was about computer numerical control (CNC) machine tools, which are used in almost all modern precision manufacturing. Without them, Russia would have to machine-cut key military components tank hulls and missile casings by hand. Russia does not make CNC machines, Yurchenko found out. In fact, only a handful of companies in the world do. After over a year of investigation, and many meetings, the EU and the Biden administration put CNC machines on the sanctions list."
"These sanctions, which led to a 2025 fine against the US manufacturer Haas Automation, have not stopped Russia manufacturing military components. But it has been forced to go to great lengths to obtain the machines, said Yurchenko. Russians used to buy 70% of the CNC machines from the west. Now they are buying 80% of their CNCs from China."
Olena Yurchenko discovered that computer numerical control (CNC) machine tools are essential for precision manufacturing of military components such as tank hulls and missile casings. Only a handful of companies worldwide produce CNC machines, and the EU and US added them to sanctions lists after over a year of investigation and meetings. Sanctions led to a 2025 fine against the US manufacturer Haas Automation but did not halt Russian production; Russia has turned to Chinese suppliers and smuggling via Belarus and Central Asia. Civil society groups and international volunteers identified many precise targets among more than three dozen rounds of Western sanctions.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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