Drip. Drip. Drip. Russian industry has begun running out of imported tech-supplies.

[DetlefK]

https://www.thedailybeast.com/russian-state-media-wont-stop-complaining-about-the-grueling-cost-of-vladimir-putins-war-in-ukraine

One paramount problem plaguing the Kremlin is the lack of high-performance computer chips, due to the Western ban on the export of semiconductors to Russia. Advanced semiconductors power critical battlefield systems and without them, the Russian military’s fighting ability is severely eroded. The frustration over Russia’s current impotence to secure its own chip manufacturing is spilling out even in the tightly controlled state media environment.

On Tuesday’s 60 Minutes, host Popov shot down suggestions from pundits that Russia can quickly organize its own production of semiconductors. “One factory that produces semiconductors would cost us $20-30 billion... It’s quite clear that we can’t build them quickly. We have to look for them on foreign markets. It’s utopia for us to suggest we could be making them here,” Popov said.

You cannot just build a microchip-plant.
1. You need the basic infrastructure first: electricity, water, pressurized air, liquid nitrogen, waste-removal, the factory-building itself, offices, a logistics-hub... this is doable.
2. You need the machinery to make microchips. Good luck importing that.
3. You need supplies like certain chemicals, chemically ultra-pure metals and semiconductors... You need very, very special spare-parts. Good luck importing that.
4. You need engineers and scientists who know what they are doing, who already have experience with this technology. Good luck finding those when Russia has had a brain-drain for the last 20 years.

Even if Russia starts building a microchip-plant tomorrow, it won't be functional until at least 5 years from now.




If we are talking high-end technology like microchips or medicine, you CANNOT simply become a self-sufficient country.
There are certain ultra-rare ressources that are produced only by a handful of companies IN THE ENTIRE WORLD. And if they don't export to Russia...
There is certain ultra-rare and specialized machinery that is only built and maintained by a handful of companies IN THE ENTIRE WORLD. And if they don't export to Russia... If they refuse to send their specialists over to Russia for maintenance-work...






The microchip-shortage in Russia is just the beginning.

A shortage of medicines will be next.

And after that, a shortage of other electronics like PCs, laptops, smartphones...

[Walleye]

1. Megalomaniacal magical thinking on Putin's part