The Votkinsk plant in Udmurtia was supplied with the necessary equipment for producing ballistic missiles, including intercontinental ones, through the mediation of three Belarusian companies. Despite being under sanctions, this enterprise has expanded production while the full-scale war in Ukraine continues.
The Votkinsk plant is a strategic state facility that services Russia's nuclear forces. During the war in Ukraine, the enterprise has hired thousands of workers, built new facilities, and introduced modern equipment to significantly increase missile production. This information was reported in an investigation by The Kyiv Independent, and Radio Liberty drew attention to the publication.
The plant also produces Iskander missiles. Last year, Russia launched 245 of these missiles at Ukraine, compared to 55 in 2023. This year, Russia has launched more than 180.
"Russia carried out its bloodiest attacks on Ukrainian cities far from the front line in 2025 with the help of Iskander-type ballistic missiles," the investigators emphasize.
Additionally, the Votkinsk plant produces intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads.
The enterprise is under sanctions, and supplies of any equipment necessary for producing weapons are generally prohibited from being supplied to Russia. Despite these restrictions, however, missile production at the plant has increased, with the help of companies from China, Taiwan, and Belarus. According to the enterprise's internal documents, these companies supplied critical equipment through little-known Russian intermediaries. This chain allows the end buyer to remain hidden and simplifies things for the supplier.
Under this scheme, the Votkinsk plant received machine tools worth at least $11 million.
The Homiel Machine Tool and Unit Plant, the Belarusian Machine Tool Trading House (the official dealer of Belarusian machine tool plants, registered in Smolensk), and Gefest reportedly participated in these deliveries.
BELPOL previously claimed that all industrial enterprises in Belarus worked in the interests of Russia's defense sector.
"Unfortunately, now all enterprises of the Ministry of Industry of Belarus, as well as all those included in the military-industrial complex and several hundred commercial structures, are working to circumvent sanctions imposed by both Belarus and Russia in the interests of Russia's state defense sector. Belarus is now being turned into an assembly shop by Lukashenka that supplies military products to Russia, which then sends them to the front," said Uladzimir Zhyhar, a representative of the initiative, in an interview with Belsat.
Stsiapan Kubik / IR belsat.eu
