The National Agency for the Prevention of Corruption (NAPC) has included the Indian company CK Birla Group in the list of international sponsors of the war. This was reported by the press service of the department.
CK Birla Group and its subsidiary National Engineering Industries (NEI, NBC Bearings brand) are helping the Russian military-industrial complex replace critical European and American parts for military equipment, including bearings.
This is a critical part for many types of vehicles: tanks, other armored vehicles, tracked vehicles and aviation. In addition, bearings are necessary for the functioning of the railway - the main method of Russian military supply and all Russian logistics, noted in the NAPC.
RF is not able to produce bearings of sufficient quality and in sufficient quantity. Russia imported bearings worth $419 million in 2020 alone. More than half (55%) came from Europe and North America, with 16% primarily from Germany.
After Russia's large-scale invasion of Ukraine, European and American manufacturers left the Russian market. The main tank-building and tank-repair enterprises of Russia - Uralvagonzavod and Omsktransmash - completely stopped for lack of these details.. Significant problems arose in the design of aircraft, ships, submarines and train maintenance..
It was CK Birla Group that helped fill the gap. From April 2022 to March 2023, the share of NBC Bearings in the import of bearings from India to Russia amounted to 38.4% ($12.3 million).
The main buyer was the European Bearing Corporation group, whose products are actively used in the manufacturing of locomotives, aviation, missile systems and other military equipment..
“We call on this company and other producers of dual-use goods to refuse to supply products to the terrorist state of the Russian Federation,” said Alexander Novikov, head of the NAPC..
Another subsidiary of the CK Birla group, cement producer Ultratech, has already been on the sanctions list, buying coal from Russian SUEK for yuan to circumvent dollar sanctions..