How Apple and Intel Chips End Up in Russian Missiles (Despite US Sanctions) episode artwork

EPISODE · Jul 2, 2026 · 15 MIN

How Apple and Intel Chips End Up in Russian Missiles (Despite US Sanctions)

from Elsewhere · host Tyler Cooper

Ever wonder how a Russian missile filled with banned American tech even gets off the ground? Ukrainian bomb squads are finding Western-made chips in 85% of Russian weapon debris, and the answer isn't what you think. Tyler Cooper breaks down the underground supply chain that's making sanctions look like suggestions. 🎯 What You'll Learn: • Why a single Russian Iskander missile contains $7 million worth of foreign parts (and how they got there) • How shell companies in Kazakhstan saw electronics imports jump 100% after sanctions hit • The cat-and-mouse game between government enforcement and creative smugglers • Why some chips found in Russian weapons were manufactured less than two years ago 👤 Perfect for: Anyone who wants to understand how global economics actually work when governments say they don't. 📍 Chapters: [00:00] Tyler introduces the missile mystery that stumped investigators [01:30] Inside a Russian weapon: 400 foreign components hiding in plain sight [04:00] The Kazakhstan connection: how neutral countries become middlemen [07:00] Why sanctions work on paper but fail in practice [10:00] The smuggler's playbook: creative shipping and shell companies [12:00] What this means for future conflicts and trade wars This isn't about politics. It's about how money finds a way around any rule, and why the global supply chain might be too complex for any government to actually control. 🔔 Never miss an episode: Follow Elsewhere on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and turn on notifications. Tyler drops new episodes daily, and tomorrow's story will probably surprise you just as much. 🔍 Topics: sanctions, supply chain, international trade, geopolitics, military technology --------------- Keywords: international news, geopolitical analysis, international relations, political commentary Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ever wonder how a Russian missile filled with banned American tech even gets off the ground? Ukrainian bomb squads are finding Western-made chips in 85% of Russian weapon debris, and the answer isn't what you think. Tyler Cooper breaks down the underground supply chain that's making sanctions look like suggestions. 🎯 What You'll Learn: • Why a single Russian Iskander missile contains $7 million worth of foreign parts (and how they got there) • How shell companies in Kazakhstan saw electronics imports jump 100% after sanctions hit • The cat-and-mouse game between government enforcement and creative smugglers • Why some chips found in Russian weapons were manufactured less than two years ago 👤 Perfect for: Anyone who wants to understand how global economics actually work when governments say they don't. 📍 Chapters: [00:00] Tyler introduces the missile mystery that stumped investigators [01:30] Inside a Russian weapon: 400 foreign components hiding in plain sight [04:00] The Kazakhstan connection: how neutral countries become middlemen [07:00] Why sanctions work on paper but fail in practice [10:00] The smuggler's playbook: creative shipping and shell companies [12:00] What this means for future conflicts and trade wars This isn't about politics. It's about how money finds a way around any rule, and why the global supply chain might be too complex for any government to actually control. 🔔 Never miss an episode: Follow Elsewhere on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and turn on notifications. Tyler drops new episodes daily, and tomorrow's story will probably surprise you just as much. 🔍 Topics: sanctions, supply chain, international trade, geopolitics, military technology --------------- Keywords: international news, geopolitical analysis, international relations, political commentary Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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How Apple and Intel Chips End Up in Russian Missiles (Despite US Sanctions)

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This episode was published on July 2, 2026.

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Ever wonder how a Russian missile filled with banned American tech even gets off the ground? Ukrainian bomb squads are finding Western-made chips in 85% of Russian weapon debris, and the answer isn't what you think. Tyler Cooper breaks down the...

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