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Sanctions forcing Russia to use appliance parts in military gear, U.S. says

With Western technology sales banned, Russia is using computer chips meant for household appliances in battlefield gear, Commerce secretary tells a Senate hearing

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May 11, 2022 at 5:33 p.m. EDT
Ukrainian service member next to a destroyed Russian battle tank in the Kharkiv region on May 9. (Stringer/Reuters)
3 min

U.S.-led sanctions are forcing Russia to use computer chips from dishwashers and refrigerators in some military equipment, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said Wednesday.

“We have reports from Ukrainians that when they find Russian military equipment on the ground, it’s filled with semiconductors that they took out of dishwashers and refrigerators,” Raimondo told a Senate hearing, noting that she recently met with Ukraine’s prime minister.