auto parts supplier
Bosch rejects the Ukrainian foreign minister’s accusation
The technology group and automotive supplier Bosch has denied the accusation by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba of having supplied components for Russian infantry vehicles. Photo: Sebastian Gollnow/dpa
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The Ukrainian foreign minister explained on German television that his own army had found parts of a German company in Russian military vehicles. The Ministry of Economic Affairs is examining the allegations.
The technology group and automotive supplier Bosch has denied the accusation by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba of having supplied parts for Russian infantry vehicles.
The company from Gerlingen near Stuttgart announced on Monday that the component mentioned had not been supplied by Bosch to the vehicle manufacturer, even if it was a part from its own production.
When asked, the Federal Ministry of Economics stated that the facts were being examined, but that they could not comment on the individual case at the moment. The Foreign Office said: “The Ukrainian government has drawn the federal government’s attention to individual cases in which products from German manufacturers are used by the Russian armed forces.”
Kuleba said on Sunday evening on the ARD program “Anne Will” that the Ukrainian army had caught Russian infantry vehicles a few days ago. Parts of the main drive components from Bosch were found in one of these vehicles. For years, Bosch has supplied parts that the Russian military needed. With these vehicles, Russia is now invading Ukraine. “Maybe now it’s time for us to get everything we need to defend ourselves,” Kuleba said to Germany. Ukraine has received arms supplies from the federal government and hopes for further support.
An embargo has been in effect for Russia since 2014
“For the supply of Russian automotive customers, the local contracts stipulate that Bosch products are used exclusively for civilian applications,” said Bosch. “Basically, as part of its global strategic orientation, Bosch does not develop, manufacture or sell any weapons, systems or components exclusively for defense applications and does not conduct any research and development in the field of military technology.”
An embargo has been in force in Russia since 2014, which includes both armaments and those so-called dual-use goods that are intended for military use. Basically, dual-use goods are products that can be used for both civil and military purposes. “If there was evidence of any kind of military use, the export permits were not granted,” said the Ministry of Economic Affairs.
These rules have been tightened with recent EU sanctions following the Russian attack on Ukraine. The export of dual-use items to Russia is now generally prohibited, regardless of whether they are intended for civilian or military use. “The federal government takes indications of violations of sanctions very seriously and passes them on directly to the responsible investigative and prosecution authorities,” emphasized the ministry.