More than 450 foreign-made components have been found in Russian weapons recovered in Ukraine, evidence that Moscow acquired critical technology from companies in the United States, Europe and Asia in the years before the invasion, according to a new report by Royal United Services Institute defence think tank.

Since the start of the war five months ago, the Ukrainian military has captured or recovered from the battlefield intact or partially damaged Russian weapons. When disassembled, 27 of these weapons and military systems, ranging from cruise missiles to air defence systems, were found to rely predominantly on Western components, according to the research shared with Reuters.

It is the most detailed published assessment to date of the part played by Western components in Russia's war against Ukraine.

About two-thirds of the components were manufactured by US-based companies, RUSI found, based on the weapons recovered from Ukraine. Products manufactured by the US-based Analog Devices and Texas Instruments accounted for nearly a quarter of all the Western components in the weapons.

Other components came from companies in countries including Japan, South Korea, Britain, Germany, Switzerland, and the Netherlands.

"Russian weapons that are critically dependent upon Western electronics have resulted in the deaths of thousands of Ukrainians," Jack Watling, a land warfare specialist at RUSI, told Reuters.

While many of the foreign components are found in everyday household goods such as microwaves that are not subject to export controls, RUSI said a strengthening of export restrictions and enforcement could make it harder for Russia to replenish its arsenal of weapons such as cruise missiles.

In one case, a Russian 9M727 cruise missile, one of the country's most advanced weapons that can manoeuvre at low altitude to evade radar and can strike targets hundreds of miles away, contained 31 foreign components. The parts were made by companies that included US-based Texas Instruments Inc and Advanced Micro Devices Inc, as well as Cypress Semiconductor, which is now owned by Infineon AG , a German company, the RUSI investigation found.

In another case, a Russian Kh-101 cruise missile, which has been used to strike Ukrainian cities, including the capital Kyiv, also had 31 foreign components with parts manufactured by companies including US-based Intel Corporation and AMD-owned Xilinx.

In response to questions about how their chips ended up in Russian weapons, the companies said they comply with trade sanctions and they have stopped selling components to Russia.

Analog Devices said the company closed their business in Russia and instructed distributors to halt shipments to the country.

Texas Instruments said it follows all laws in the countries where they operate and the parts found in the Russian weapons were designed for commercial products. Intel said it "does not support or tolerate our products being used to violate human rights."

Infineon said it was "deeply concerned" if its products are being used for purposes which they were not designed for. AMD said it strictly follows all global export control laws.

Many of the foreign components only cost a few dollars and Russian companies would have been able to buy them before the start of the Ukraine invasion online through domestic or international distributors because they could be used in non-military applications.

However, more than 80 Western-manufactured microchips were subject to US export controls since at least 2014 meaning they would have required a licence to be shipped to Russia, RUSI said. The companies exporting the parts had a responsibility to carry out due diligence to ensure they were not being sent to the Russian military or for a military end-use, according to RUSI.

The investigation's findings show how Russia's military remains reliant on foreign microchips for everything from tactical radios to drones and precision long-range munitions, and that Western governments were slow to limit Russia's access to these technologies particularly after President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Crimea in 2014.

Russia's war with Ukraine, which began on Feb 24, has killed thousands of people, displaced millions more and laid waste to several cities. Russia's superior firepower, including its use of cruise and ballistic missiles, has helped its forces grind through eastern Ukraine and occupy around a fifth of the country.

Russian troops have fired more than 3,650 missiles and guided rockets in the first five months of the war, according to the Staff of the National Security and Defense Council. These include the 9M727 and Kh-101 missiles. Russian missiles have been used to hit targets including railway lines to disrupt Western supply lines, military infrastructure and civilian targets such as shopping centres and hospitals. Russia said it has only fired at military targets. Russian authorities didn't provide further comment for this story.

In the aftermath of the invasion of Ukraine, the United States announced sweeping sanctions to try to weaken Russia's economy and its military. This included a ban on many sensitive microchips being sold to Russia. Countries in Europe, as well as Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea - all key chipmaking countries - have announced similar restrictions. Russia characterises the conflict as a special military operation meant to disarm Ukraine. Moscow has cast the sanctions as a hostile act and has denied targeting civilians.

Russia is currently working to find new routes to secure access to Western microchips, according to RUSI. Many components are sold through distributors operating in Asia, such as Hong Kong, which acts as a gateway for electronics making their way to the Russian military or companies acting on its behalf, RUSI found.

Russia's government did not respond to a request for comment.

The US government said in March that Russian firms were front companies that have been buying up electronics for Russia's military. Russian customs records show that in March last year one company imported US$600,000 worth of electronics manufactured by Texas Instruments through a Hong Kong distributor, RUSI said. Seven months later, the same company imported another US$1.1 million worth of microelectronics made by Xilinx, RUSI said.

Texas Instruments and AMD-owned Xilinx did not respond to a request for comment about the customs data.

Russia's military could be permanently weakened if Western governments strengthen export controls, manage to shut down the country's clandestine procurement networks and prevent sensitive components being manufactured in states that support Russia, RUSI said.

Source: Reuters

 At least seven people died in the South Korean capital of Seoul and metropolitan area overnight, authorities said on Tuesday (Aug 9), after torrential rain knocked out power and left roads and subways submerged.

The southern part of Seoul received more than 100mm of rain per hour on late Monday, with some part of the city having received 141.5mm of rain, the worst rainfall in 80 years, according to local media citing Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA).

The accumulated precipitation in Seoul stood at 420mm as of 5am Tuesday (4am Singapore time), with more rain forecast.

In the glitzy, highly concentrated Gangnam district, some buildings were without power and had been inundated, while cars, buses and subway stations were submerged, leaving people stranded. Some stores had also been under water.

At least five people died in Seoul and two others in the neighbouring Gyeonggi Province as of 6am Tuesday, the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters said. Four died after being trapped in flooded buildings, one was electrocuted, one person was found under the wreckage of a bus stop, and another died in a landslide, it said.

At least nine people in the areas were injured, while six were missing.

The headquarters raised the crisis alert to the highest and requested public and private organisations to adjust their working hours.

The KMA issued heavy rain warnings across the capital and the metropolitan area as well parts of Gangwon and Chungcheong Province.

Such advisories are issued when precipitation is predicted to surpass 60mm in a span of three hours or 110mm in 12 hours.

The KMA expects heavy rainfall for the central part of the country to continue through at least Wednesday.

Source: Reuters/ta

The Palestinian envoy to the UN told the UN Security Council that [Israel’s] three-day aggression was "unprovoked and unjustified".

Palestine has urged the international community to provide protection in the wake of recent “Israeli” attacks on besieged Gaza that left 46 Palestinians dead.

The Palestinian envoy to the UN told the UN Security Council on Monday that it was an ''unprovoked and unjustified'' aggression.

''It’s real reason is barely veiled: the upcoming “Israeli” election and the desperation to appeal and appease the extremists,'' said Riyad Mansour. ''We need protection. Our civilians are entitled to protection. Our children deserve protection.''

''Do you know how it feels to be powerless? To be unable to provide any protection to your child?... To survive one war and wait for the next onslaught?'' he added.

The appeal came after an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire to end three days of “Israeli” air strikes on Gaza and retaliatory rocket fire.

The UN welcomed the truce, but warned it was fragile.

''Any resumption of hostilities will only have devastating consequences for Palestinians and “Israelis” and make any political progress elusive,'' said the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Tor Wennesland.

He said efforts to reach the truce helped prevent the outbreak of a full-scale war and allowed for the delivery of badly needed humanitarian relief for the people in Gaza.

He also welcomed the reopening of the Erez and Kerem Shalom crossing points by the “Israeli” authorities, which allowed a total of 23 fuel trucks to enter Gaza, enabling the enclave’s power plant to resume operations.

Implementation of ceasefire

“Israeli” Ambassador to the UN Gilad Erdan said “Israel” was defending itself from what he called ''terrorist attacks” and ''deliberate'' rocket attacks.

US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield called on both parties to fully implement the ceasefire and said the US was working seriously to prevent further violence.

During the escalation, 46 Palestinians were killed, including 15 children, and over 360 injured. 

Hundreds of homes were damaged or destroyed, and 70 “Israelis” were injured by Palestinian group Islamic Jihad's rocket attacks, according to the UN.

Source: AA

So far a total of 10 ships have sailed since last week under a deal with Russia to unblock Ukrainian sea-borne grain exports.

Chicago wheat and corn prices have eased after reports of more ships sailing from Ukraine to bring grain exports into global markets.

Welcome rain and lower temperatures forecast in the US Midwest also weakened corn and soybeans.

The Chicago Board of Trade's most active wheat contract Wv1 fell 1.4 percent to $7.64-1/4 a bushel by 1112 GMT. Corn Cv1 fell 1.1 percent to $6.03 a bushel and soybeans Sv1 were down 0.09% to $14.07-1/2 a bushel.

Two more ships carrying corn and soybeans departed from Ukrainian ports on Monday, taking the total to 10 since the first ship sailed last week under a deal with Russia to unblock Ukrainian sea-borne grain exports.

The hopes are that world markets could receive significant new Ukrainian supplies.

“Wheat and corn are falling today as ever more ships sail from Ukraine,” said StoneX commodity risk manager Matt Ammermann. 

"The question now is if and how fast we will see high-volume grain exports developing from Ukraine."

Supply situation to improve

Ammermann says the market does not yet have full confidence in the safe-shipping corridor, but developments in recent days suggest the situation might improve more rapidly than previously expected.

Corn and soybeans are being weakened by more rainy, cool weather in the US Midwest, which has removed some of the fear about crop stress debated last week.

"But soybeans are also supported by expectations the US climate change, healthcare and tax bill will raise demand for soyoil," Ammermann said.

"With Brazilian soybeans selling out, Chinese demand for soybeans is also expected to be transferred to the United States from the second half of September."

Source: Reuters

US-based Defense News lists three Turkish defence companies in its list of Top 100 global firms with the highest defence revenues.

Three Turkish firms are among the world's 100 biggest defence and aerospace companies, as ranked by revenue by the website Defense News. 

Aselsan, Türkiye's largest defence manufacturer was listed at 49, while Turkish Aerospace Industries was listed at 67. 

Roketsan was ranked at 86, according to the 2022 list published on Monday. 

The US-based publication focuses on the politics, business and technology of the defence sector. They have been publishing an annual list of rankings of defence and aerospace companies by revenue since 2000.

Source: TRT World

Ankara will continue its fight against terrorism and its decision to establish 30-kilometre-deep safe zone along the country's southern border is 'permanent', Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says.

The Turkish president has hinted at a possible new cross-border operation to clear the PKK terrorist organisation from its border with Syria.

"We will continue our fight against terrorism. Our decision to establish a 30-kilometre-deep secure line along our southern border is permanent," Recep Tayyip Erdogan said during his address to Turkish diplomats who attended the 13th Ambassadors Conference in the capital Ankara on Monday.

Hopefully, Türkiye will soon clear the last areas where the terrorist organisation is still "nesting" in Syria, he added.

Since 2016, Ankara has launched a trio of successful anti-terror operations across its border in northern Syria to prevent the formation of a terror corridor and enable the peaceful settlement of residents: Euphrates Shield (2016), Olive Branch (2018), and Peace Spring (2019).

In its more than 35-year terror campaign against Türkiye, the PKK – listed as a terrorist organisation by Türkiye, the US, and the European Union – has been responsible for the deaths of over 40,000 people, including women, children and infants. The YPG is PKK's Syrian offshoot.

Al Aqsa Mosque Türkiye's 'red line' 

On recent Israeli attacks on Gaza, which resulted in the death of many civilians, including children, Erdogan said: "There can be no excuse for killing children, babies in swaddling clothes. Türkiye stands by the Palestinian people and its Gazan brothers."

An Egypt-brokered ceasefire in Gaza between Israel and the Palestinian group Islamic Jihad was announced on Sunday, putting an end to three days of Israeli air strikes and retaliatory rocket fire from Gaza.

At least 43 Palestinians have been killed and over 300 others injured in the Israeli offensive, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.

Erdogan said Al Aqsa Mosque is a "red line" for Türkiye.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry also called on Israel not to allow acts targeting the status and sanctity of Haram al Sharif and Al Aqsa Mosque.

Russia-Ukraine dialogue urged

Türkiye, since the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, has argued "there will be no winner," President Erdogan said, adding: "In meetings with both [Ukrainian President Volodymyr] Zelenskyy and [Russian President Vladimir] Putin, we underlined that problems should be resolved through dialogue."

Erdogan said despite all the negativities, Türkiye continued efforts and ensured the implementation of the grain corridor agreement.

On July 22, Türkiye, the UN, Russia and Ukraine signed a deal in Istanbul to reopen three Ukrainian Black Sea ports – Odesa, Chornomorsk, and Pivdennyi – for the export of Ukrainian grain stuck due to the conflict, which is now in its sixth month.

"Ships are sailing as you know right now. Thus, we contributed to world supply security at a time when the food crisis was looming. So far, we have managed to operate this agreement without encountering any serious problems," the president said.

Since the first departure on August 1, 10 ships carrying over 304,000 tonnes of grain have so far left Ukrainian ports under the deal.

Source: agencies