A Ukrainian watchdog is accusing Haas Automation, a major sponsor for Haas racing teams, of violating U.S.-led sanctions and selling high-precision CNC machines parts to Russian military suppliers that may have been used in the production of arms.
The Economic Security Council of Ukraine (ESCU) made the allegations in documents filed with U.S. regulators, and seen by PBS Newshour. It claims that it has found evidence that Haas did business with Russian companies over the last year through its local distributor, Abamet Management.
In a statement to the outlet, Haas Automation vice president, Peter Zierhut, denied that the company was doing business in Russia, writing that it stopped shipping to the country just weeks after its invasion of Ukraine began. He called statements to the contrary “false.”
Read: Haas Drops Russian Driver Nikita Mazepin And Sponsor Ahead Of 2022 F1 Season Over Ukraine Invasion
Newshour claims, however, that customs records reviewed by it showed that shipments continued for months after the invasion began. Between March and October 2022, it claims that Haas Automation made at least 18 shipments to Russia worth $2.8 million.
The ESCU claims that the American company was sending the parts to help Russian companies maintain CNC machines that were originally supplied by it. The Ukrainian organization believes, however, that Haas is far from the only maker of CNC machines supplying Russian arms makers.
It is not clear, at this time, how the U.S. government will respond to these accusations. Nor is it clear how this will impact the Haas F1 team. While the company is a team sponsor, the two are distinct entities, both named after Gene Haas, their founder.
This is, however, just the latest Russian controversy the team has to contend with. At the start of the 2022 Formula One season, the team cut ties with Russian sponsor Uralkali and driver Nikita Mazepin, the son of Dmitry Mazepin, who was later sanctioned by the European Union for his ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
