A secretive Russian military intelligence unit operating out of a Tokyo high-rise is helping supply Vladimir Putin’s war machine by buying and smuggling high-tech components from Japan, according to a New York Times investigation.The unit, known as the 20th Directorate, has made Japan a crucial base for Russia’s war effort. Ukrainian officials estimate that 90 per cent of Russian missiles and drones contain Japanese components, according to the investigation.At the heart of the operation is Maksim Vladimirovich Filchenkov, 49, a veteran GRU officer operating under cover as an employee of the Russian state airline Aeroflot. From the airline’s 22nd-floor office, he runs the operation, current and former Western intelligence officials told The New York Times.
How the network works
Filchenkov develops relationships with logistics companies, including Proco Air, a Japanese firm that advertises itself as a “bridge between Japan and Russia.”The company rents cargo space on airlines that fly to countries where Aeroflot operates, such as Sri Lanka or Uzbekistan, where cargo is transferred and flown to Russia.Proco Air’s owner, Takehiko Miki, told NYT he met Filchenkov around 2018 and began working with him in 2024. He denied knowing Filchenkov had ties to Russian intelligence and said his company ships only authorized goods.However, according to two people with direct knowledge of the episode, Miki contacted an associate in China last year, introduced by Filchenkov, specifically seeking help shipping items he acknowledged were prohibited from being sent to Russia.
Ukraine sent Japan evidence
Ukraine has repeatedly flagged to Japan’s government that Russian weapons containing Japanese components have been found in civilian attacks. In April 2025 alone, Ukraine sent at least eight formal diplomatic letters to Japan’s Foreign Ministry detailing evidence of Japanese components recovered from Russian weapons used in attacks on civilians.NYT reporters reviewed one letter that said Japanese components had been found in ballistic missiles. Japanese firms named in Ukraine’s documentation included Nippon Electric Corporation, Panasonic and Toshiba, though there was no evidence that any of the companies knowingly supplied Russia directly. All the companies denied wrongdoing and said they follow Japan’s export rules, with Nippon saying the flagged components were old and had not been sold for years.
Japan’s weak espionage laws
Japan has long been known as a spy paradise, in part because of post-World War II constraints that keep its intelligence services weak. The country does not even have a foreign intelligence agency.Despite repeated warnings from Ukraine and Western allies, Japanese authorities have been slow to act. In one month alone, Ukraine sent at least eight diplomatic letters detailing evidence of Japanese components in Russian weapons. Times reporters reviewed one letter that said Japanese components had been found in ballistic missiles.The Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it had worked with Western allies to ban the export of military-related items to Russia. However, Russian spies appear to be operating under the noses of Japanese authorities.The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said it had issued warnings to companies and industry groups and blacklisted dozens of overseas entities it suspects of helping Russia circumvent export bans.
Japan’s support for Ukraine
Despite its vocal support for Ukraine, Japan has been slow to act on the espionage threat. It joined US and EU sanctions against Russia on the day of the invasion and later began sending military supplies including bulletproof vests and helmets, breaking with its post-war precedent. Under Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, Japan has also launched a programme to strengthen its intelligence capabilities to better prevent illegal exports and counter espionage.The Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it had worked with Western allies to ban the export of military-related items to Russia. However, Russian spies appear to be operating under the noses of Japanese authorities.
