Ground reports indicate that Russian troops have been repairing their military equipment in Ukraine using electronic components from refrigerators and dishwashers, U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said on Thursday.
“I have received reports from Ukrainians that they are finding Russian military equipment on the ground full of semiconductors that have been removed from dishwashers and refrigerators,” the U.S. official told a congressional hearing.
Raimondo said that as a result of the sanctions imposed, U.S. technology exports to Russia had fallen by about 70 percent since the end of February. Exports of specialty items such as telecommunications, lasers, aviation and semiconductors also fell by 85 percent.
In addition, two Russian tank suppliers have shut down production due to a lack of components, especially semiconductors, also known as chips, the U.S. commerce secretary said.
Before the start of the war, Russia relied on imports of chips from the West and Asia, given that production in the country is very low.
Recently, the Ukrainian press also reported that Russian forces in the Kharkov region have been going from house to house to conduct a “census of household appliances.”
“What the purpose of such a ‘census’ is remains to be seen,” news portal Ukrinform wrote on Sunday.
