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New York Times Analysis: How Japan Became a Paradise for Putin

2026-07-12 18:21:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

New York Times Analysis: How Japan Became a Paradise for Putin

While the West thought that mass expulsions of Russian diplomats and sanctions would cut off the flow of critical technology to Moscow, Vladimir Putin appears to have found a new backdoor.

Not in China or any Central Asian country, but in Japan. According to an extensive investigation by the prestigious American newspaper "The New York Times", Tokyo has become a key hub for a secret network of the Russian military intelligence service (GRU), supplying the Russian war machine with microchips, electronic components and dual-use technologies essential for building missiles and drones.

At the heart of this network is a little-known unit of the Russian military intelligence service (GRU), known as the 20th Directorate.

According to current and former Western intelligence officials cited by the newspaper, its officers operate under the guise of diplomats or businessmen and are tasked with acquiring dual-use technology, products that can be used for both civilian and military applications.

Officers in the unit are said to organize the purchase of sensitive equipment, create transportation networks and ensure that the products eventually reach Russia, despite restrictions imposed by the West.

The investigation argues that Japan is an ideal environment for such activities.

Despite political support for Ukraine, the country still has relatively limited counterintelligence capabilities and legislation that is considered less stringent than other Western countries.

In addition, it is one of the world's largest manufacturers of advanced electronic components, semiconductors, sensors, and industrial machinery, which makes it particularly attractive to networks that circumvent sanctions.





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