EU is expected to sanction companies that are helping Russia's war, one of them is from Serbia

Russia has managed to overcome sweeping EU and US technology sanctions intended to shut down its military-industritorial complex by redirecting essential goods like microprocessors through third friendly countries, such as China.

The West has been cautious to date about targeting companies in third countries out of concern not to exasperate reports with leaders, choosing diplomacy instead. But with the increase in missile production and other weapons from Russia with Western production chips, pressure is mounting on Brussels and Washington to take action.

Now, prior to the second anniversary of Ukraine's Russian invasion on 24 February, the EU is expected to announce a 13th package of sanctions linked to Russia targeting subjects in six foreign countries, according to the first document by Radio Free Europe.

The targets include four firms from China and one from Kazakhstan, Serbia, India, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand and NATO member Turkey. In general, there are 21 subjects on the list, the rest of which are placed in Russia.

Subjects included on the list are not final and companies and other persons can be added or removed before a final version is adopted.

Brussels has so far sanctioned three Chinese firms in past packages and has been in discussions with Beijing on China's growing role in supplying Russian companies with non-lethal but militarily constructive equipment.

Russian imports of dual-use goods through firms based in Central Asia and China have grown in the sky since the start of the war, including electronics and components produced by Western companies, such as microchips and fears.

During a visit to China in December, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyeen and European Council chief Charles Michel warned Chinese leader Xi Jinping to address a list of 13 companies identified by Brussels allegedly involved in the supply of Russian firms.

The four Chinese firms in draft include the current sanctions package: Guangzhou Ausay Technology Co Limited, Shenzhen Biguang Trade Co. Limited, Hong Kong-based Yilufa Electronics Limited and RR Soluations Limited.

If included in final version, Serbia-based Conex firm Doo Belgrade -Star Grad would be the first Balkan country company to be involved in an EU sanctions package related to the war in Ukraine.

Almay-based Elem Group will also be the first company from Kazakhstan to be in a package if it is not removed after discussions next week as EU ambassadors meet to finalise the list. Two Kazakh firms were included in a draft version of the 12th package of sanctions seen by Radio Free Europe in November, but were not included in the final version.

Elem Group was added to the US Department of Commerce Entities List in December, and a RFE/RL investigation in June revealed that the company had sent hundreds of pieces of dual use to St Petersburg-based electronics businessman Strello E-Commerts.

The E-Commerts sanctuary was hit with sanctions by the US Treasury Department in December, which said the company was part of Russia's military procurement network.

Elem Group has denied any wrongdoing, and Kazakhstan's National Economy Ministry claimed in December that the company has not been trading with foreign subjects since May.

The company was founded in Kazakhstan less than three weeks after Russia's invasion and one of its founders, Russian businessman Kiril Tulyakov, was also a founder of the E-Commerts Stream.

The new list of sanctions, which includes companies and individuals, will continue to be debated in Brussels, while the bloc seeks to revive declining levels of support and western aid to Ukraine.