A Russian man has been arrested in Florida on suspicion of smuggling U.S. parts for the production of President Vladimir Putin ‘s drones, which are being used in the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Russian citizen Denis Postovoy, 44, was arrested on Monday morning in Sarasota on charges of violating export restrictions, money laundering, defraud, and illegally supplying Russia with dual-use and military microelectronics from U.S.-based and foreign-based distributors, the U.S. Department of Justice said .
Since at least February 2022—when Putin launched his full-scale invasion of Ukraine—Postovoy procured and illicitly exported microelectronic components with military applications that can be used in drones, from the U.S. to Russia, court documents allege.
Drones have been used extensively by both Russia and Ukraine in the ongoing war, now in its third year.
Postovoy and other individuals in his network allegedly purchased the goods via a web of companies that he owns or operates in Russia, Hong Kong, and elsewhere, and exported the microelectronics to Russia without applying for or obtaining the required licenses from the U.S. Department of Commerce.