DOJ-Commerce Strike Force Talks Export Enforcement in Ukraine

DOJ-Commerce Department Disruptive Technology Strike Force senior officials traveled to Ukraine last week to speak with Ukrainian officials about Russia-related export enforcement and ways the two sides can better share information. The delegation -- which included Matthew Axelrod, Commerce’s top export enforcement official, and Matthew Olsen, the head of DOJ’s National Security Division -- spoke about efforts to “stop the flow of sensitive technologies to aid the Russian war machine,” the Bureau of Industry and Security said in a readout of the meetings.

The Strike Force also viewed Russian ballistic missiles, air-guided missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles and other weapons recovered from the front lines, BIS said, and outlined efforts to bring criminal prosecutions and other enforcement actions “aimed at stopping the illicit transfer of technology.” The U.S. and Ukrainian officials also discussed ways to increase “information sharing and the exchange of best practices of forensic analysis.”

The Strike Force, launched in February (see 2302160019), so far has announced several indictments against people and companies for illegally sending export-controlled items to Russia, including a September indictment charging a Russian citizen and Hong Kong resident for illegally procuring U.S. dual-use microelectronics with military applications for Russian end users (see 2309190063).