Dual US-Russian citizen pleads guilty to supplying Russia with sensitive military technology

Vadim Yermolenko, a dual US-Russian citizen, has pleaded guilty to charges in a scheme that funneled millions of dollars of sensitive US-made electronics to Russia for military use. The 43-year-old admitted to conspiracy charges, including violating the Export Control Reform Act and committing bank fraud. This is a significant win for Task Force KleptoCapture, an initiative aimed at halting support for Russia’s military activities.

“This defendant played a central role in a now-disrupted scheme with Russian intelligence to smuggle military-grade equipment into Russia,” stated Attorney General Merrick Garland. FBI Director Christopher Wray added that Yermolenko’s actions “pose a significant threat to the United States and its allies.” According to court documents, Yermolenko worked with Moscow-based companies, Serniya Engineering and Sertal LLC, which used shell companies to conceal Russian military involvement in procuring US electronics for radar, surveillance, and advanced weaponry.

The scheme was linked to Russian military and intelligence agencies, including Rostec and the Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), according to the Justice Department. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, these companies were sanctioned for their roles in supporting Russia’s war efforts.

The Department of Justice and its law enforcement partners continue investigating the case, with Task Force KleptoCapture and the Disruptive Technology Strike Force leading efforts to prevent the unlawful transfer of critical technology to adversarial states.