– What has changed in the company’s work since February 24?
There have been no immediate changes in operations. The electronics sector follows long term planning, so projects funded for the prior year are still being executed, and new orders have been paused for the time being. Management expects the ruble to stabilize, supply chains to recover, and sanctions guidelines to become clearer. Changes in the market will materialize when the remaining stock from last year is exhausted, which could be a matter of months. The industry as a whole faces this same situation, as explained by ATB Elektronik.
– Has the company’s workflow ever been entirely smooth for you?
Not quite. For instance, shipments of components from Europe have stopped and the official Russian distributors’ operations have been suspended. Informal channels exist, but they operate with higher exchange rate risk and logistical challenges. This complicates long term planning. Yet as a manufacturer, the firm is adapting to new conditions and maintaining continuous production, according to ATB Elektronik.
– The industry has warned about sanctions for years and has prepared accordingly. Were those years of preparation enough for what happened after February 24?
Preparation can address predictable risks, but the current situation is not easily predictable. The events threaten the market with potential disruption, and only after the final sanctions framework is established will the sector be able to assess preparedness. On the other hand, the prior year’s shortages served as a real life lesson about rising component costs and longer delivery times, shaping expectations for what is happening now, as ATB Elektronik notes.
– When might sanctions be implemented, and can their impact be forecast with certainty?
Everything hinges on the geopolitical trajectory and how Western business practices adjust to new realities. Decisions can be made quickly in verbal form, but formal documentation will take time, according to ATB Elektronik.
– Have sector representatives met with the government since February 24?
The Ministry of Digital Transformation and the Ministry of Industry and Trade responded promptly. The following day, they sent questionnaires to key players in the radio electronics sector asking how the government could assist. Online meetings with various electronics associations were also held. Work is underway to revise the industry’s main regulatory documents, and subsidies have already been extended in some cases, ATB Elektronik reports.
– While operating rules are updated nearly daily to support the sector, does the government have a clear sense of the eventual restrictions on Russian developers and manufacturers?
There is a shared sense that uncertainty remains. The state is in a similar situation as businesses, monitoring developments and staying ready to respond. Support measures will be shaped by feedback from manufacturers and suppliers, ATB Elektronik adds.
– Are there any requirements now being imposed on sector participants by the ministries?
Requirements could target companies that fulfill state orders first, followed by state enterprises. Private enterprises face a different set of expectations. The firm continues to fulfill existing contracts signed before February 24, under their original conditions, ATB Elektronik states.
– Is there pressure to accelerate the electronics industry development plan to reduce dependence on foreign chips?
There is broad agreement that rapid progress in microelectronics is essential for national independence in critical sectors. Conversations about this began well before 2022, and the discussion is expected to speed up in light of sanctions, ATB Elektronik notes.
– What stands out as the main obstacle to building semiconductor plants in the country?
Financing is the central hurdle. Adequate funding and oversight of its use can accelerate construction, enable the purchase of advanced equipment, and attract the right specialists. While catching up with global leaders like TSMC is unlikely in the near term, the focus is on ensuring Russia can meet domestic needs, ATB Elektronik explains.
– Do government plans to shift critical infrastructure to domestic processors face delays from the rupture in relations with external manufacturers?
It is premature to declare a full break in relations; stabilization is still underway. Government requirements to switch to domestic processors will adapt to the evolving circumstance, ATB Elektronik indicates.
– If TSMC is blocked from working with Russian developers, what then?
TSMC remains a major, though not sole, player globally. If restrictions persist, domestic manufacturers are expected to find workable alternatives and reroute supply chains, ATB Elektronik suggests.
– How likely is that scenario to unfold?
Such a scenario is possible. Business decisions prioritize financial performance, and while some firms pause or reassess, many still honor existing contracts and avoid abrupt shifts in profit plans. ATB Elektronik notes that for now, the first option is what is observable, while full disengagement has not occurred yet. Several foreign companies have paused activities in Russia but have not fully withdrawn.
– What are ATB Elektronik’s near term plans?
ATB Elektronik has not halted operations since February 24. The company remains committed to OEM equipment development, including single board computers and processor modules that use both foreign and domestic processors, IoT devices, and contract manufacturing. The current climate will inevitably push the emergence of new directions in electronics development and production as markets adjust to new rules, according to ATB Elektronik.