Russia’s Top Tank Factory Runs on 260+ Western Machines, Intel Says

The Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine (HUR) has released data exposing the scale of Russia’s dependence on foreign technology at “Uralvagonzavod,” the country’s largest tank producer. According to the report, the plant relies on more than 260 units of Western-made equipment, including computer numerical control (CNC) machines.

These machines were purchased before 2022 during Russia’s military-industrial rearmament, which, according to HUR chief Kyrylo Budanov, had been ongoing since 2007. Nevertheless, they remain critical for the plant’s ability to produce armored vehicles and engines for the war against Ukraine.

The presence of foreign machinery creates a key pressure point: without regular servicing, software updates, and spare parts, the equipment will quickly fail. Manufacturers and their authorized dealers could halt Russian production by cutting off supplies.

“Although these purchases were made before 2022, documenting such equipment is important, since it requires ongoing maintenance, repair, and software updates,” the HUR report stated on Monday, Sept. 1.

“Manufacturing companies, directly or through authorized dealers, can restrict the supply of spare parts, technical fluids, and software for the machines that serve Russia’s war machine.”

HUR noted that in 2024, Uralvagonzavod even launched a new tank engine production line equipped with advanced European machinery that arrived in Russia via third countries.

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Ukraine launched a major long-range drone campaign against Russia, striking St. Petersburg’s oil terminal, the Kronshtadt naval base, and multiple ships in the Azov Sea — timed to embarrass Putin’s high-profile Petersburg security conference. Meanwhile on the ground, Russia gained just 14 square kilometers in May at a cost of roughly 30,000 casualties, a pace that even Russian milbloggers call unsustainable. In Romania, a second stray Russian drone found near Băsești drew no meaningful NATO response.

“Such deliveries to Russia through intermediaries continue, though they have become more complex, lengthy, and costly due to sanctions,” the intelligence agency said.

The report stressed the need for strong international coordination, investigations, and accountability for sanctions violators:

“To limit the aggressor’s ability to wage war, it is essential to consolidate diplomatic efforts, share information, and block sanction-evasion schemes at the international level. Real investigations and tougher liability for sanctions violators are key to reducing the flow of military equipment.”

As of now, the War&Sanctions portal contains data on more than 1,400 pieces of equipment used at 169 Russian defense industry enterprises, including supporting documents, photos, and even unique serial numbers that can be used to block servicing.

Russia’s new drone is equipped with a camera and two LTE modems, which allow the transmission of video in real time or recorded through mobile base stations. The modems also provide the ability to receive commands for remote flight correction. These adaptations show how Moscow continues to leverage off-the-shelf technology. Last month, HUR published the technical specifications of another drone already in active use by the Russian military.

This UAV performs reconnaissance tasks and is used as a decoy to overload Ukraine’s air defense system. Some reports also suggest it can carry a warhead weighing up to 15 kilograms (33 pounds).

The aircraft has a delta-wing fuselage similar to the Shahed-136 but is significantly smaller. All components and modules on the UAV are of Chinese origin.

“Almost half of them, the flight controller with autopilot, navigation modules and antennas, airspeed sensor, and Pitot tube, come from a single Chinese company, CUAV Technology,” the HUR press service reported.