On the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the UK government announced an expansion of its sanctions list by 297 entries. The restrictions target 240 legal entities, seven individuals, and 50 maritime vessels. Among the new targets are Stupino Metallurgical Company (SMK) and JSC OKB Astron, both of which were previously exposed by the Trap Aggressor team of the StateWatch analytical center. The companies’ assets in the UK are frozen, and British businesses are prohibited from providing them with any services.
Stupino Metallurgical Company is one of Russia’s key producers of heat-resistant nickel alloys, special steels, titanium, and aluminum alloys. In the Trap Aggressor investigation from the «War Ores» series, it was established that the enterprise supplies products to PJSC UEC-Saturn – a manufacturer of engines for Kalibr cruise missiles, Iskander-K tactical missile systems, as well as Kh-101 and Kh-59 missiles. Russia systematically uses these types of weaponry in daily attacks on the critical infrastructure of Ukrainian cities.
Journalists also discovered that even after the start of the full-scale war, Stupino Metallurgical Company continued to import equipment and raw materials through partners in Turkey, China, Italy, and other countries. According to customs data, during the invasion, SMK received foreign goods worth over $28 million – specifically CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machines and raw titanium. Some of these shipments occurred despite existing international restrictions.
Furthermore, the sanctions list now includes JSC OKB Astron, a manufacturer of Kurs-800TB and Granat-PG FPV drones, and the developer of the Blokpost thermal imaging reconnaissance system. The enterprise is part of the Shvabe holding within the Rostec state corporation. The Trap Aggressor analytical report – «Game-Changing Drones: Who Manufactures Russian FPV UAVs» – provides a detailed account of how Astron utilizes facilities in the occupied territories of Ukraine to serve the needs of the Russian military-industrial complex.