Conflict & Security
Investigation Reveals Russian GRU Unit Using Japan as Tech Pipeline for Military
Synthesized from2 sources
Investigation Reveals Russian GRU Unit Using Japan as Tech Pipeline for Military
A New York Times investigation has uncovered that Russia's 20th Directorate of the GRU operates a covert network in Japan to acquire advanced technology for its war effort.
- According to Ukrainian government estimates, approximately 90 percent of Russian missiles and drones contain Japanese-made components.
- Maxim Vladimirovich Velichenkov, a Russian intelligence officer, arrived in Japan in February 2024 under cover as an Aeroflot employee, the investigation reported.
- Ukraine sent at least eight diplomatic memos to Japan's Foreign Ministry in April 2025 providing evidence of Japanese components found in Russian weapons used against civilians.
- Takehiko Miki, owner of shipping firm Broco Air, confirmed knowing Velichenkov but denied knowledge of his intelligence role or involvement in shipping banned goods to Russia.
Coverage
Read the original reportingThis brief was compiled from 2 outlets, 1 reporting in Arabic and 1 in English, over 18 hours of coverage. Each is listed below with the headline it led on, so you can compare them yourself.
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