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India Ships Explosives to Russia Despite US Sanctions Threats
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India has shipped $1.4 million worth of HMX (octogen), a high-explosive compound with military applications, to Russia, despite US warnings about potential sanctions.
This shipment, which took place in December, was received by Russian companies, including Promsintez, a defense manufacturer with ties to Russia's military efforts, as was reported on July 24.
The transaction is part of India's ongoing trade with Russia, which has continued despite Western sanctions designed to isolate Russia following its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
This is the first time the sale of HMX to Russia has been publicly reported. The explosive compound, used in military systems like missile warheads and rocket motors, is critical to Russia’s war efforts, according to US officials, as stated by Reuters.
Indian company Ideal Detonators Private Limited was responsible for the shipment. It sent two separate consignments of HMX, with one valued at over $1 million delivered to Promsintez.
The second shipment, worth $405,200, was purchased by High Technology Initiation Systems, another Russian defense contractor. Both companies are based in Samara region, near Kazakhstan.
The US government has repeatedly warned its allies, including India, that doing business with Russia’s military-industrial complex puts companies at risk of US sanctions.
However, the US has not taken significant action against India due to its strategic partnership with the country, particularly in counterbalancing China's growing influence.
The revelation of these shipments has drawn attention from Ukrainian officials, who have expressed concern about India's involvement in facilitating Russia's war. Vladyslav Vlasiuk, a key advisor to President Zelenskyy, confirmed that Promsintez has been under scrutiny for cooperation with Indian companies.
Despite these concerns, the Indian government has defended its actions, stating that its exports are in compliance with international regulations and that dual-use items, like HMX, have both civilian and military applications.
The US State Department has declined to comment on the specifics of the shipments but reiterated that companies engaging in military-related business with Russia could face sanctions.
Earlier, it was reported that the US president Donald Trump had announced that unless an agreement is reached within the next 50 days, Washington would impose new “secondary tariffs” on Russia at a rate of approximately 100%.
