[Translation prepared by Business & Human Rights Resource Centre]

10 October 2024

In the war against Ukraine, Russia is dependent on a constant supply of military equipment. President Vladimir Putin has therefore converted large parts of the industry to a war economy: all available companies must produce military equipment, ammunition or spare parts.

Since imports of goods that can be used for military purposes are prohibited due to the sanctions, Russia is trying to produce as much as possible in its own country. According to SWR research, products from German mechanical engineering companies play an important role in this...

According to Russian customs documents available to SWR, there were more than 300 deliveries from German manufacturers to Russia by the end of December 2023. Most of these are large industrial machines or so-called CNC machines. These computer-controlled machines can, for example, cut steel, bend sheet metal or weld metal parts fully automatically...

Olena Yurchenko from the Economic Security Council of Ukraine...warns that 80 percent of CNC machines in Russia are now used in military production: "With computer-aided CNC machines, they can produce much faster and more precisely, which is extremely important, especially in the weapons sector. This ultimately enables them to produce even more deadly weapons. And Germany is the market leader in the production of these machines, with a share of up to 30 percent in Russia"...

German machines are used extensively by military suppliers, as SWR was able to prove through video and photo recordings. The Russian companies Parsek, Kamaz, NIR and Industrial Solutions supply the Russian military with engines and parts for aircraft and missiles. All of these companies use German machines. According to customs documents, further deliveries were made there until the end of 2023...

SWR was able to identify more than 30 German manufacturers whose machines were imported to Russia last year...

The company Walter Maschinenbau from Tübingen is listed in the Russian customs lists with eleven deliveries in 2023. According to SWR research, these deliveries may still be taking place today. A Russian wholesaler is currently selling a brand new industrial machine from Walter, built in 2024.

In addition, Walter machines are used in large numbers by the Russian company NIR JSC. According to Ukrainian security authorities, the company supplies the Russian military with aircraft and rocket engines. The Walter company left several inquiries from SWR unanswered...

The machine construction company Vollmer from Biberach currently has an active Russian website with contact persons for service and maintenance. According to customs documents, four large Vollmer machines, each weighing several tons, were imported into Russia last year. The company did not answer questions about its business in Russia despite repeated requests.

Fein GmbH from Schwäbisch-Gmünd made a total of seven deliveries to Russia, and the Russian website, including service and shop, is still active. The company did not answer specific questions from SWR , but simply stated in general terms that "we at C. & E. Fein GmbH are taking all measures to comply with the sanctions regulations. We ask for your understanding that we will not provide any further information."

Heller machines can be seen on video recordings at several Russian companies...

SWR was able to find machines from the Heller company in Nürtingen on video recordings at several Russian companies that also work for the Russian military - including the companies Parsek and Kamaz. Both companies are involved in Russian military production.

When asked, the Heller company said that it was complying with all sanctions regulations and could not explain how machines were delivered to Russia last year. According to SWR research, Turkish middlemen were involved here too.

The SWR was able to identify other German machine manufacturers whose products are used by military suppliers in Russia. The Association of German Mechanical Engineers said: "We assume that the manufacturers of machines and systems generally adhere to sanctions regulations and laws. Companies or intermediaries that do not adhere to the legal situation that applies to them are committing a criminal offense. We reject a stop to deliveries to Turkey"...