Dozens of Ukrainian civilians have filed lawsuits in Texas against Intel, AMD, and Texas Instruments, alleging negligence in tracking chips that ended up powering Russian drones and missiles. The suits claim the companies ignored warnings and used high-risk supply channels, contributing to deadly attacks on Ukrainian targets. Plaintiffs seek damages to hold the firms accountable and disrupt illicit supply chains.
In a series of lawsuits filed this week in Texas, dozens of Ukrainian civilians accused major US chip manufacturers—Intel, AMD, and Texas Instruments (TI)—of failing to prevent their products from reaching Russian and Iranian weapon systems. The complaints detail how chips evaded US export curbs and were used in attacks that killed or injured innocents, including a July 2024 strike on Kyiv's largest children's hospital.
Lead attorney Mikal Watts, speaking at a press conference, criticized the companies' reliance on minimal checks. “There are export lists,” Watts said. “We know exactly what requires a license and what doesn’t. And companies know who they’re selling to. But instead, they rely on a checkbox that says, ‘I’m not shipping to Putin.’ That’s it. No enforcement. No accountability.” He likened the chips to “the steering wheels of cars,” essential for drones and missiles, and argued that the firms' inability to trace products mocks US sanctions laws.
The lawsuits cite evidence of negligence, including TI's rejection of board recommendations to strengthen compliance despite shareholder concerns. A 2023 US Institute of Peace report found that up to 82 percent of recovered Russian drones used US-made components, including from TI. Another study noted nearly 70 percent of parts in such drones were American-made.
Intel responded with a statement emphasizing compliance: “We operate in strict accordance with export laws, sanctions and regulations... While we do not always know nor can we control what products or applications customers and end-users may create, we hold our suppliers, customers and distributors accountable.” TI has previously testified to Congress that it opposes use of its chips in Russian military equipment, calling such shipments “illicit and unauthorized.” AMD and TI did not immediately comment.
Since Russia's 2022 invasion, over 53,000 Ukrainian civilians have died. Plaintiffs, including survivors and bereaved families, seek funeral and medical costs plus exemplary damages to punish wrongdoing and deter future lapses. Watts aims to make litigation costly enough to force supply chain reforms, sending a message that “American companies must take responsibility when their technologies are weaponized.”
