The German company KNAUF supplies building materials to modernize Russian nuclear facilities - Der Spiegel

The German construction concern Knauf continues to supply materials to modernize Russian nuclear facilities, despite public statements about distance from business in Russia. This is evidenced by documents from the Russian database of public procurement, which were received by journalists DER Spiegel and the Danwatch Danwatch portal. The materials contain drawings and specifications for the construction of security towers and other objects around mines with intercontinental ballistic missiles under a clear one.

According to the documents received, the Russian military department actively uses the products of Western companies for its secret objects - cement, gypsum, glue, insulating materials. The goods of the Bavarian Knauf, a concern with billions of turnover are especially in demand. In one of the applications from the fall of 2022, 32 tons of KNAUF-ROTBAND gypsum for the 368th regiment in clear are indicated.

According to Der Spiegel, Knauf publicly condemns the Russian war against Ukraine and declares its intention to leave the Russian market, but retains full control over its subsidiaries in the country. One of the Russian “daughters” even received the status of “system -forming” in March 2022, immediately after the start of a full -scale invasion. Family business from Franconia has been holding on profitable operations in Russia for years - in 2023 the revenue of the group amounted to € 3.7 billion.

Deliveries are carried out through “import substitution” schemes: instead of export from Germany, Knauf produces similar products at Russian and Belarusian plants. So, UNIhard gypsum putty replaced the Uniflott product after the cessation of deliveries from Germany. The Russian “daughter” Knauf Gips alone registered at least 20 new brands in Russia after February 2022.

The publication writes that the modernization of Russian nuclear objects is moving rapidly. Experts note that new installations are better protected and built from better materials. According to intelligence agencies, some missile positions are already equipped with systems of the Avangard missile system with a hypersonic warhead and an improved guidance system.

In September 2024, it became known that the tests of the nuclear intercontinental missile of the RS-28 Sarmat at the Plesetsk training ground of the Arkhangelsk region ended in complete failure-the rocket exploded right in the mine.