Indian firm supplies sanctioned Nvidia AI chips to Russia via Malaysia
A Mumbai pharmaceutical company exported Dell servers containing sanctioned Nvidia AI chips to Russia through Malaysia between April and August 2024, reportedly circumventing Western sanctions intended to restrict military-grade technology. The US and EU expressed concern about India's role as an intermediary for restricted technology sales to Russia.
What happened
Shreya Life Sciences, a Mumbai-based pharmaceutical company, exported 1,111 units of Dell Technologies' PowerEdge XE9680 servers to Russia between April and August 2024, according to a Bloomberg News analysis of trade-tracking data. Specification data for 998 of the shipped servers showed they were equipped with Nvidia's H100 chips, worth approximately $300 million total.
The servers and chips they contain are on a list of items restricted by the US and European Union to target sensitive sectors in Russia's military industrial complex. The shipments were imported by two Russian trading companies, Main Chain Ltd. and I.S LLC, with Malaysia identified as the origin for these high-tech shipments.
Reported impact
The US and European allies expressed concern about India's role as an intermediary in sales of advanced technology to Russia, with implications for Russia's military capabilities. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's chief of staff complained that Russia continues receiving components used for electronic intelligence and warfare systems despite Western sanctions.
Index analysis
The shipments underscore holes in Western government attempts to shut off Moscow's access to dual-use technology with potential military applications. India has become the second-biggest supplier after China of restricted technology to Russia.
Governance controls
Shreya Life Sciences exported the servers legally within Indian law, and the company did not respond to multiple requests for comment regarding the shipments.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.