German companies are supporting the Russian war in Ukraine by supplying electrical components that are not officially subject to sanctions. The magazine “Capital” (new issue on April 13 at the kiosk or available here) reports on the case of the East Westphalian company Harting, whose Ethernet cable connection was discovered in a Russian Iskander 9M727 attack missile. These missiles are used by Vladimir Putin’s armed forces in the war against Ukraine.
After the start of the war, Harting continued to deliver components worth more than 13 million dollars (around twelve million euros) to Russia – including to companies in the military-industrial complex. In Berlin security circles there is concern about damage to the reputation of German industry if such deliveries are not stopped. The Russian government is systematically looking abroad for semiconductors and other components for the production of war weapons, using primarily smaller intermediary companies that collect high commissions.
The German medium-sized company Harting is one of the pioneers of business in Russia and had already founded a subsidiary in St. Petersburg in 1993 – with the direct support of the city’s then deputy mayor – Vladimir Putin.
This message first appeared here in the business magazine “Capital”, which, like the star, belongs to RTL Germany.
