In 2025, Kazakh-Russian businessman Yermek Suyundukov imported a record volume of optical fibre into Russia. According to CVB, he accounted for more than 80% of the supplies received by the two main importers.
WHAT THE INVESTIGATION FOUND
According to The Insider, in the first quarter of 2025, optical fibre worth $9 million was brought into Russia, roughly double the figure for the same period in 2024.
As the publication notes, more than 80% of the imported fibreglass went to individual entrepreneur Yermek Amandykovich Suyundukov and LLC "Inkab". Between January and March 2025, Suyundukov imported 120 tonnes of fibre into Russia.
It is noted that this volume is sufficient to provide communications for several tens of thousands of drones. In April 2025, production at a factory in Saransk was destroyed, which, according to the publication, could lead to a further increase in purchases.
WHICH COMPANIES SUPPLIED THE PRODUCTS
The main shippers of optical fibre were Chinese companies Foshan Beyond Import and Export and Hubei Guanqun Import and Export. It is noted that the name of the first company was recorded with transliteration differences in Russian documents and actually corresponds to Foshan Bangyang Import and Export Co., Ltd.
In response to a request from journalists, China Bank of Communications, where the company holds an account, declined an interview.
WHAT OTHER GOODS DID YERMEK SUYUNDUKOV IMPORT?
In the first quarter of last year, the businessman also brought into Russia 140,000 lithium-ion batteries worth $3.5 million, 50,000 electric motors with a power of 1 kilowatt, 65,000 devices for fibre-optic communication, 450 kg of electronic boards for video cameras, 15,000 optical lenses and 160 kg of propellers.
In addition, batteries from Dongguan Henghui Electronic Technology, chargers from Dilong New Energy Technology Hebei, and equipment for winding optical fibre onto spools manufactured by Shanghai Rui Tai Photoelectric Technology were certified in Russia. Yermek Suyundukov did not respond to journalists' queries.
According to the publication, Yermek Suyundukov is presumably a citizen of Russia and Kazakhstan and resides in Chelyabinsk. However, the publication does not provide official confirmation of this information. In Kazakhstan, dual citizenship is not permitted by law, and holding citizenship of another state is grounds for losing Kazakhstani citizenship.
WHAT IS KNOWN ABOUT LLC "INKAB"
According to The Insider, LLC "Inkab" is a major manufacturer of civilian optical cables. In 2024, the company had transactions with JSC "VNII "Signal" and JSC "Instrument Design Bureau".
During a telephone conversation, company representatives confirmed the possibility of selling ready-made spools for drones. Also, according to the publication, the enterprise produces cables for aerostats and various types of connectors.