February 24, Pozirk. The European Union added the Minsk-based Intehrał chip factory in its 16th sanctions package on the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The document was adopted as a response to steps “undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine,” the Official Journal of the European Union reported.
It said that Intehrał supplies chips to Russian entities participating in the war against Ukraine and the company’s products “have been found in the battlefield.” “Such purchase orders are large and account for the vast majority of the company’s exports,” it added.
“Semiconductors are vital to Russia’s war effort and Russia has already invested USD 350 million in JSC Integral,” it concluded. “Therefore, JSC Integral supports actions which undermine and threaten the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine and supports and benefits from the Government of the Russian Federation, which is responsible for the annexation of Crimea and the destabilization of Ukraine.”
The US Department of Treasury sanctioned Intehrał for backing the war in February 2022, the United Kingdom in March of the same year and Japan a little later.
In October 2022, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky approved sanctions lists of about 4,000 individuals and legal entities from Belarus and Russia, including Intehrał.
Visiting Intehrał on February 14, Alaksandar Łukašenka emphasized that electronics plays a critical role for the future of Belarus and Russia.
In January, the BelPol association of former security officers published an investigation identifying Intehrał as one of the companies involved in the mass production of ammunition for the Russian army.
The Belarusian Investigative Center also reported at the end of January that Intehrał is bypassing sanctions and assisting Russia’s military.
