According to foreign media "The Insider" reported that Russia can still import silicon wafers (semiconductor silicon wafers) from China's Taiwan through some ways, which are the basic components of most microchips manufactured in Russia, and are indispensable to military equipment such as fighter jets and missiles.

The report pointed out that if Taiwan restricts the export of important silicon chips, the Russian military industry will face insurmountable difficulties.

TSMC has stopped shipments to Russia in the wake of the full-scale conflict with Ukraine, while Russia has also struggled to manufacture local microchips. There are currently five ASML devices in operation in Russia, with wavelengths ranging from 193 to 365 nanometers, which are very outdated and 15 to 20 years old.

Russian chipmaker Epie receives imported wafers and "autonomously" lithographs, etches, and cuts the chips into their original state. Then, in conjunction with local Mikron, NZPP Vostok, Pulsar and other companies to manufacture ready-to-use microchips.

At present, the major global suppliers of DUV lithography machines at 193nm (" deep ultraviolet ") wavelengths are only ASML, Nikon and Canon, while EUV lithography machines at 13.5nm (" extreme ultraviolet ", close to the X-ray range) wavelengths are only manufactured by ASML.

It's worth noting that an ASML spokesperson confirmed to The Insider that the company has never sold a significant amount of equipment to Russia.

ASML maintains that it does not provide repair services for its equipment and that parts circulate on secondary markets beyond the manufacturer's control. Simply put, ASML has not sold a lot of equipment to Russia, and the five lithography machines in Russia are all purchased from third parties and are still old.

News from the Ukrainian newspaper Pravda largely confirms this assessment. As of 2022, there are reportedly five photolithography machines in operation in Russia, with wavelengths ranging from 365 to 193 nm, located at the Russian Scientific Institute for Systems Analysis, Mapper, Zelenograd Nanotechnology Center and Mikron. In short, Russia does have five operational lithography machines.

According to internal data from Russian Customs, the country imported a total of $150.5 million worth of semiconductor-related goods in 2023 for the production of microchips and printed circuit boards. The list of buyers includes civilian entities such as Sitronics Smart Technologies, which makes smart cards and chips, and Hevel, which makes solar panels, distributors of a variety of equipment, including sanctioned goods, and organizations that purchase small amounts of equipment for peripheral, non-core projects.

From The list listed by foreign media "The Insider", Pai Haung Technology, a Taiwanese company, has exported a certain number of semiconductor silicon wafers to Epiel, a Russian chip manufacturer, and the company only has business dealings with a few Russian companies, which can ship chips directly from Taiwan to them.

However, it is worth noting that this company appears to be only a "middleman", and The Insider believes that many customs documents point the manufacturer to another company, Wafer Works, because this company was also a supplier of Epiel before the war.

Kharon, a data firm founded by a former US Treasury Department official, found that Pai Haung was once listed as an affiliated entity on the website of the US DMS Electronic Components Group, but now see this information has disappeared from the website. Bao Yongjian, Pai Haung's chief executive, said in an interview with Taiwanese media that it would strictly abide by Taiwan's laws and not do business with sanctioned companies.

In fact, Epiel, which is based in Zelengrad, Russia, is not on the US, Taiwan or other sanctions lists, even though it is an important part of the manufacturing process of Russian military-industrial products. Another Pai Haung client, AO VZPP Mikron, was sanctioned.