Since the invasion, Russia has imported a surprising number of washing machines, refrigerators and even electric breast pumps from allied countries such as Kazakhstan and Armenia, raising concerns that the chips in the appliances are fueling Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war machine, Bloomberg reports. reports

As Russia began buying more household appliances from Armenia and Kazakhstan, the two countries saw a sudden and surprising increase in imports of washing machines, refrigerators and even electric breast pumps from the EU.

According to Eurostat data used by Bloomberg, Armenia imported more washing machines from the European Union in the first eight months of this year than in the past two years combined.

As of August, Kazakhstan imported European refrigerators worth $21.4 million, three times more than in the same period last year.

Mass export to Russia

At the same time, Kazakhstan’s government data indicate an increase in the export of refrigerators, washing machines and electric breast pumps to Russia.

Part of the trade through Eurasian states to Russia may be represented by opportunistic enterprises that make up for shortfalls in imports from other countries, or by Russian companies that disassemble devices and use components and semiconductors in civilian production.

But European officials familiar with the figures say they are concerned that at least some of the goods and their components could be used for military purposes, and are closely monitoring increased exports to Russia’s neighbors.

Components of household appliances used in military equipment

Officials in Europe have already said they have seen parts of refrigerators and washing machines used in Russian military equipment, such as tanks.

People familiar with the matter said it was highly likely that components and microchips in other household appliances could also be used for military purposes.

Trade data shows, for example, that exports of electric breast pumps from the EU to Armenia almost tripled in the first half of 2022 compared to the previous year, despite a 4.3% drop in Armenia’s birth rate.

Russians steal washing machines in Ukraine

In addition, Kazakhstan’s demand for breast pumps from the EU increased by 633% in the first half of 2022, even as the country’s birth rate fell by 8.4% over the same period.

It’s not clear what components can be recovered from the devices, although they generally all contain microchips.

During the invasion of Ukraine, Russian forces regularly stole household appliances, such as washing machines, but it is unclear whether they did so for government or personal use.

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