Chicago – July 24, 2025
An Indian company shipped $1.4 million worth of an explosive chemical to Russia in December, according to Indian customs data seen by Reuters. The chemical, called HMX, is used in military weapons like missiles and rockets. This comes despite warnings from the U.S. government, which has threatened to impose sanctions on any companies or countries that help Russia in its war with Ukraine.
One of the Russian companies that received the shipment is Promsintez, an explosives maker with ties to the Russian military. Ukraine’s security service said it even attacked a Promsintez factory with a drone earlier this year. Another company involved is a subsidiary of Maxam, a Spanish explosives company controlled by a private equity firm in New York.
The U.S. government has warned financial institutions not to support sales of HMX to Russia, as it plays an important role in Russia’s military operations. The Pentagon has also said that HMX is used in many weapons, including missile warheads and rocket motors.
While India has strengthened ties with the U.S. to counter China’s rise, it continues to maintain strong military and trade relations with Russia. India, for example, still buys large amounts of Russian oil, even though many Western countries are trying to stop Russia’s war economy through sanctions.
The U.S. Treasury Department has the power to punish companies that sell HMX and similar materials to Russia, according to legal experts. HMX is a powerful explosive designed for maximum destruction.
