Italy supplies Russia with important raw materials for Iskander missiles

Russia received at least 232 tonnes of liquid epoxy resins from Italy in 2024, accounting for 21% of imports. The raw materials are used to manufacture carbon fibre casings for Iskander-M ballistic missiles.

Source: Corriere della Sera

Details: According to a study by the Economic Security Council of Ukraine (REB), epoxy resins from Italy accounted for 21% of imports last year, making it the second largest supplier after China (42%).

According to the Economic Security Council of Ukraine, the Sir Industriale S.p.A company from Mario in Brianza (Lombardy) supplied epoxy resins to Russia. In response to a request from Corriere della Sera, the company noted that due to its high molecular weight, its products are intended for civilian use only: coating tuna cans, preserves or steel products, etc.

"However, customs data analysed by the Economic Security Council of Ukraine and Corriere della Sera recorded 18 deliveries of low-molecular-weight liquid epoxy resins from Sir Industriale S.p.A, which have HS code 3907300009 and can also be used in military production," the publication states.

This is also confirmed by Russian importers: Uralproekt, YAZPK and PRIME TOP2 – all associated with the Scientific and Production Corporation KB Mashinostroeniya, which manufactures missiles for the Iskander-M systems.

Some of the transactions were also carried out through the Polish company Kamex Magazyn, which may indicate an intention to conceal the final recipient.

"At the time of the deliveries by Sir Industriale, the EU sanctions on epoxy resins had not yet been voted on, and therefore there was no violation," explains Olena Yurchenko, Director of Analytics, Research and Investigations at REB.

"Despite this, European exporters can independently check their customers' ties to the Russian government and military industry if they do not want their products to become weapons of the aggressor," she said.

Earlier, REB discovered the supply of 300 tonnes of Belgian antimony oxide, subject to sanctions, to the Russian Federation for more than €4.5 million, as well as the Russian Federation's critical dependence on imported sodium chlorate, which is also necessary for the production of Iskander-M ballistic missiles.

Background:

• It was reported in July 2025 that Russia had significantly expanded its drone capabilities for the war against Ukraine thanks to Chinese companies that officially deny cooperating with Moscow.
• Chinese drone experts have made repeated trips to Russia, working on the technical development of Garpiya military drones at the Izhevsk Electromechanical Plant, a state-owned weapons manufacturer under Western sanctions.
• Earlier, it was reported that since Donald Trump's return to US presidency, no new sanctions were imposed on Russia. This opens loopholes for the supply of microchips and military components, despite the restrictions imposed after the start of Russia's large-scale war in Ukraine.
• Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that he would impose sanctions against Russian propagandists and manufacturers of Russian Iskander missiles.

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