Arrested until 31 July
Vadim Konoshchenok, a Russian national, was detained in Estonia and handed over to the United States on July 13. He appeared in a Brooklyn federal court on July 14 to face charges related to smuggling American technology and ammunition, according to statements from the U.S. Department of Justice public affairs office.
According to the DoJ release, Konoshchenok is alleged to be a Russian citizen linked to the Federal Security Service. He was arrested in Estonia under an arrest warrant issued by the Eastern District of New York and subsequently extradited to the United States on July 13, 2023. The press statement notes that prosecutors requested and secured detention ahead of the next court date, with the hearing tentatively scheduled for July 31.
The prosecutor’s office spokesperson added that Konoshchenok has proclaimed his innocence and remains in custody without bail being offered at this stage.
Technology, ammunition, electronics
The U.S. Department of Justice describes the case as part of a broader effort involving money laundering and a global procurement network linked to Russian officials. As highlighted by District Attorney Breon Peace, the charges involve an illegal procurement scheme for American dual-use technologies, ammunition, and specialized electronics that hold potential military applications. The indictment alleges participation by entities connected to the Russian defense sector in evading sanctions and sourcing items that could support military needs, including some that intersect with nuclear-related developments.
Court filings identify Sernia Engineering LLC and Sertal LLC as organizations tied to Konoshchenok. DoJ guidance refers to these firms as Moscow-based, with ties to the Russian security apparatus. The government contends that these companies, under U.S. restrictive measures, acquired electronics and test equipment for the Russian Armed Forces under the direction of Russian intelligence services.
Records show that Konoshchenok was detained in October 2022 while attempting to move a catalog of semiconductor and electronic components, many of them manufactured in the United States, from Estonia toward Russia. DoJ officials say the operation involved an Estonian intermediary, Stonebridge Resources, and included discussions about searches, shipments, and payments. Investigators uncovered messages in which Konoshchenok identified himself as a Russian security official and posted a photo in a uniform that resembled an official designation.
People connected to the case
The Estonian detention occurred on December 6 following a U.S. request. On December 14, 2022, U.S. authorities charged five Russian individuals with helping Russian agencies avoid sanctions and procure advanced Western electronics and equipment for the military complex. Konoshchenok was listed among those named in the indictment alongside others.
Other named parties include Yevgeny Grinin, 44, of Moscow; Alexei Ippolitov, 57, of Moscow; Boris Livshits, 52, of St. Petersburg; Svetlana Skvortsova, 41, of Moscow; Alexei Braiman, 35, of New Hampshire; and Vadim Ermolenko, 41, of New Jersey. DoJ updates indicate that two of these individuals were arrested in the United States while the others remain outside the country. The case continues to unfold across jurisdictions as investigators pursue additional evidence and potential accomplices.