Inside the Rostec Archives Leak: What the Documents Reveal About Russia’s Defense Strategy, Sanctions Evasion, and New Global Networks
By Nurul Rakhimbek
November 17, 2025
The recent leak of internal archives from Russia’s state defense conglomerate Rostec—released in batches by the hacker collective Black Mirror—has quickly become one of the most significant exposures of Russia’s military-industrial ecosystem in years. Beyond revealing contracts, procurement strategies, and sensitive personal data, the documents expose how Moscow is attempting to adapt its defense sector to an era defined by sanctions, geopolitical isolation, and technological pressure.
The leak provides a rare window into Russia’s export strategy, its attempts to secure new markets, emerging defense-industrial partnerships with China and Iran, and the vulnerabilities inside one of the country’s most strategically important state corporations.
Anatomy of the Leak: What Was Exposed
The leaks came in several stages, each adding new layers of insight:
Over 300 internal documents in the first tranche, including emails, contract drafts, technical files, and export planning materials.
A second batch focusing on Russia–China cooperation in electronic warfare (EW).
A third segment detailing joint avionics and UAV development with Iran, alongside evidence of corruption and internal power struggles.
A parallel leak of personal and medical records from Rostec’s aviation medicine center is affecting over one million individuals.
The disclosures span the entire spectrum of Rostec’s activities: procurement chains, export pipelines, manufacturing logistics, EW testing, executive correspondence, and private data.
A Blueprint for Sanctions Evasion
One of the clearest themes emerging from the leaks is the systematic effort to circumvent Western export restrictions.
Creation of Global Logistics Nodes
Documents describe the establishment of maintenance and logistics centers outside Russia—including a proposed helicopter parts hub in Dubai. These platforms would allow sanctioned components to circulate indirectly into Russian military systems.
Screening International Partners
A “reliability” assessment protocol—conducted with involvement from the FSB, SVR, and Ministry of Defense—aims to ensure foreign companies participating in supply chains will not re-export sensitive components or expose Moscow’s procurement channels.
Expansion into Non-Western Markets
With traditional markets closing, Russia is doubling down on Iran, Algeria, Ethiopia, Southeast Asia, and parts of Africa, positioning itself as an arms supplier unfazed by Western pressure.
Collectively, the documents portray a sanctions-adapted ecosystem built through alternative trade corridors, state-vetted intermediaries, and increased reliance on the Global South.
Electronic Warfare Cooperation with China: The Most Sensitive Reveal
The second batch of leaked files may be the most strategically consequential.
Joint EW Systems Development
Rostec reportedly collaborates with a consortium of Chinese companies—including manufacturers, logistics operators, an insurance entity, and a specialized research institute—to co-develop new-generation EW platforms.
Systems Tested in Ukraine
Alarmingly, some Chinese-made systems described in the documents were allegedly tested on the battlefield in Ukraine, including:
4G-based drone detection systems
Communication disruption tools targeting Starlink terminals
Compact anti-UAV EW modules adaptable for armored vehicles
Industrial Espionage Channels
Perhaps the most explosive claim is that Rostec has established a channel for accessing technical data from China’s electronic components industry—what the documents themselves refer to as a form of industrial espionage.
The implications are profound: these leaks hint at strategic tech sharing between Beijing and Moscow far deeper than publicly admitted.
Arms Export Contracts Revealed
The leaks include detailed tables outlining price structures, aircraft configurations, and delivery codes for Russia’s newest fighters.
According to the disclosed materials:
Iran: A planned acquisition of up to 48 Su-35s (contract code “364”).
Algeria: Orders associated with 12 export-variant Su-57E stealth fighters and Su-34 equipment (code “012”).
Ethiopia: A package for 6 Su-35s (code “231”).
Alongside the aircraft, Russia intends to export sophisticated Khibiny-M electronic warfare suites, advanced radars, and avionics produced by Rostec’s subsidiary KRET.
If accurate, these documents indicate Russia is aggressively weaponizing its next-generation platforms for export—not merely to finance its defense-industrial base, but to secure long-term geopolitical alliances.
Iran: Joint Avionics and UAV Development
A later batch of documents reveals extensive coordination with Iranian defense firms.
Key areas of cooperation include:
helicopter avionics
aircraft navigation systems
laser altimeters and lidar
sensor suites for UAVs
Meetings in mid-2024 between Rostec subsidiaries and Iranian counterparts were focused on technology transfers, co-production, and aligning standards for future drone and aircraft integration.
This adds a new dimension to the already deep Russia-Iran military partnership—and suggests a shift toward joint technological ecosystems, not just arms sales.
Internal Rostec Vulnerabilities and Governance Issues
Beyond geopolitical revelations, the leak exposes weaknesses inside the corporation.
Cybersecurity Fragility
Rostec claims to have processed 2.94 trillion cybersecurity “events” in 2024, but the breach itself demonstrates profound gaps in its digital infrastructure.
Corruption & Power Struggles
Internal memos point to disputes between subsidiaries and inflated executive compensation structures. These governance problems mirror longstanding critiques of Russia’s state corporations: political loyalty overrides managerial effectiveness.
Massive Personal Data Leak
The disclosure of medical and personal records from the Center of Aviation Medicine—affecting more than one million individuals—represents a high-value intelligence breach. Pilots, aircrew, engineers, and their families could now be exposed to targeting, blackmail, or identity theft.
Strategic Implications
The Rostec leak is more than a cybersecurity event: it is a map of how Russia intends to survive technological isolation.
A Pivot Toward an Alternative Defense Ecosystem
The documents indicate a future where:
China, Iran, and Middle Eastern hubs play critical roles in sustaining Russia’s defense capacity.
EW and avionics collaboration accelerates.
Russia builds parallel logistics and financial channels independent of the West.
New Vulnerabilities for Moscow
Russia’s own internal weaknesses—fragmented governance, corruption, and cybersecurity failures—are now in the open. This exposes the Russian military-industrial complex to long-term operational risk.
A Challenge for Western Policymakers
The leaks offer precise data on:
sanction circumvention routes
new defense partnerships
export customers
components Russia is sourcing abroad
For regulators seeking to tighten export controls, this archive is a roadmap.
Conclusion
The Rostec archives leak is one of the most illuminating disclosures of Russia’s defense apparatus in over a decade. It reveals a state corporation under pressure yet adapting rapidly, building new alliances, and reinforcing a sanctions-resistant global network. At the same time, it exposes an ecosystem riddled with structural weaknesses—from cyber-vulnerabilities to internal dysfunction.
As more documents emerge, the leak will continue reshaping our understanding of Russia’s technological strategy, its reliance on non-Western partners, and the global evolution of the defense industry in an era of geopolitical realignment.
