Semiconductor makers Intel, AMD and Texas Instruments were sued in the United States on allegations that they violated sanctions imposed on Russia.
Bloomberg reported on the 10th (local time) that law firm Baker & Hostetler and attorney Mikal Watts filed a lawsuit in a Texas state court on behalf of dozens of Ukrainians against these corporations. The allegation is that they failed to prevent their chips from being used in Russia's drones and missiles, violating sanctions.
The corporations did not respond to requests for comment, but Bloomberg said they have previously said they comply with sanctions requirements against Russia and are implementing policies to monitor compliance.
Law firm Baker & Hostetler and attorney Mikal Watts argued that semiconductor corporations knowingly and deliberately allowed third parties to violate U.S. sanctions and resell chips to Russia. They cited as evidence the use, since 2023, of semiconductors and other components produced by the sued corporations in Iranian-made drones and Russia's KH-101 cruise missiles and Iskander ballistic missiles used for attacks on Ukraine.
They also claimed that Mouser Electronics, an affiliate of Berkshire Hathaway, was involved in the transfer of semiconductors to shell corporations run by Russian agents. Watts referred to these corporations as "merchants of death," saying they are "turning U.S. sanctions laws into a farce."
The U.S. Department of Commerce imposed export control sanctions in Feb. 2022, shortly after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, to prevent semiconductors and other products incorporating U.S. technology from flowing into Russia.