Finnish nationals supplied Russia-linked firms with nearly 30 million euros in electronics

Two Finnish citizens supplied companies connected to Russia’s military industry with electronics worth nearly 30 million euros after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, according to an investigation by Yle’s MOT programme. Some of the components are subject to sanctions and can be used in missiles.

The investigation found that the goods went to companies serving Russia’s military industry. The technology can be used in missile systems, including to help guide them towards their targets.

One of the men, Denis Emelianov, ran a Hong Kong-registered company, PT Technology Asia, which supplied Russia with more than 20 million euros’ worth of electronic components. The business grew after the invasion began in February 2022. The products could not have been exported directly from Finland to Russia under EU sanctions.

In autumn 2023, the US Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security placed PT Technology Asia on its export-control list. The decision also named an address in Lappeenranta. The listing restricted the company’s access to US technology and its ability to trade through US businesses.

Emelianov, who became a Finnish citizen in 2018 and lives in Luumäki, denies breaking the law or helping Russia’s military. He told Yle he sold the products only for civilian use. He previously told Yle that he opposed Russia’s military actions in Ukraine.

The investigation also identified a second Finnish citizen whose business partner operates the Serbian company AK Technology in Belgrade. The company supplied Russia with electronics worth more than eight million euros for its military industry.

The investigation cited the July 2024 Russian missile strike on a children’s hospital in Kyiv as an example of the potential consequences of such technology. The attack was carried out with a Kh-101 long-range missile. Two people were killed and dozens were injured.

Yle said it had not previously uncovered electronics exports to Russia on this scale during the sanctions period, and described the case as rare internationally.