An Indian company shipped $1.4 million worth of military-grade explosives to Russia late last year, according to Indian customs data obtained by Reuters — despite repeated U.S. warnings that supplying Russia’s war effort in Ukraine could trigger sanctions.
The chemical compound, HMX (also known as octogen), is described by the U.S. government as “critical for Russia’s war effort.” It is used in advanced missiles, torpedoes and rocket systems.
Two shipments were made in December 2024 by Ideal Detonators Private Limited, and delivered to Russian firms in Samara Oblast, near the Kazakh border.
One buyer, Promsintez, has ties to Moscow’s military, according to Ukraine’s SBU security service. The second, High Technology Initiation Systems (HTIS), is a subsidiary of Spanish firm Maxam, majority-owned by U.S.-based Rhone Capital.
The U.S. Treasury is authorised to sanction sellers of dual-use explosives to Russia. Washington has repeatedly warned India and other partners that engaging with Russia’s military-industrial complex carries risk of U.S. sanctions.
A State Department spokesperson told Reuters that such concerns have been “repeatedly made clear.”
Ukraine's top sanctions official confirmed Promsintez had appeared on their radar in connection with Indian firms. The SBU said it had targeted one of the company’s sites in a drone strike earlier this year.
Though India has deepened cooperation with the U.S. in recent years, especially to counter China, it has maintained strong trade ties with Moscow — including soaring oil imports since 2022. The Indian foreign ministry said its exports of dual-use goods comply with international obligations and national export controls.
There is no indication the HMX sales violated Indian law. Officials said the substance has some civilian uses, though it is mainly associated with military applications.
The U.S. government has not said whether it will take action, though sanctions under President Donald Trump’s administration have slowed, Reuters reported. One Indian official said New Delhi was aware isolated cases could occur.
Maxam said it is in the process of divesting its Russian holdings and that HTIS operates independently. None of the involved companies — including Ideal Detonators, Promsintez, HTIS or Rhone Capital have commented.
The United States has bombed Iran for an 11th consecutive night as the Pentagon says the war’s cost reach $37.5 billion. President Donald Trump thr...
Daniel Siad, a modelling scout whose name appeared in documents linked to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, has been found dead at his home near...
Kazakhstan’s main oil export route has been disrupted after the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) suspended crude intake following drone attacks on ...
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 21st of July, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 22nd of July, covering the latest developments you need to know.
President Donald Trump said the United States will target Iran’s heavily fortified Pickaxe Mountain site “pretty soon” as he meets with Lebanese president Michel Aoun. Meanwhile, U.S. forces carried out a 10th consecutive night of strikes on Iran while Tehran continues to target Gulf countries.
Overnight U.S. strikes caused blackouts in southwestern Iran and hit the northwestern city of Tabriz for the first time. Separately, a U.S. soldier died in northern Iraq during a controlled detonation of an unexploded Iranian drone.
The United States has bombed Iran for an 11th consecutive night as the Pentagon says the war’s cost reach $37.5 billion. President Donald Trump threatens a heavy strike on the suspected Pickaxe Mountain nuclear site. Tehran warns that any attack could trigger a wider regional escalation.
Daniel Siad, a modelling scout whose name appeared in documents linked to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, has been found dead at his home near Paris, French prosecutors said. He was 69.
Ukraine's new commander-in-chief, Mykhailo Drapatyi, takes charge at a pivotal stage of the war with Russia, facing mounting challenges including troop shortages, battlefield reform and the rapid evolution of drone warfare.
ASEAN foreign ministers opened the 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Manila on 21 July, launching four days of talks that run until 24 July. The agenda includes South China Sea tensions, Myanmar’s conflict and growing U.S.-China rivalry.
Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand has renewed calls for an immediate de-escalation and permanent ceasefire in the Middle East while she warned that the humanitarian situation had become "quite grave". Anand also raised concern over tensions in the South China Sea.
Pakistan has asked the U.S. for a $10 billion exchange stabilisation facility, according to a source briefed on the matter. If approved, the funding would bolster the country's foreign exchange reserves and provide a major boost to its cash-strapped economy.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment