NEW DELHI – An Indian company that exported $1.4 million worth of a powerful explosive compound to Russia in December has stated the shipment was for civilian use and complied with Indian regulations.
Ideal Detonators Private Limited responded after a Reuters investigation, published on July 24, revealed the company had shipped HMX (also known as octogen) — a high explosive with both military and civilian applications — to two Russian explosives manufacturers.
One of the recipients, according to Indian customs data, was Promsintez, a Russian explosives firm. Ukraine’s security service (SBU) claims the company has military ties, and in April, Ukraine reportedly carried out a drone strike on a Promsintez-owned facility. Promsintez has not commented publicly on the matter.
In a statement emailed to Reuters, Ideal Detonators said, “The shipment … is for industrial activity and it’s a civil explosive.” The firm emphasized that the material was not military grade and intended solely for non-military industrial use.
However, HMX is classified by the U.S. government as critical to Russia’s military efforts, especially in the ongoing war in Ukraine. The compound is commonly used in missile warheads, torpedoes, rocket motors, and other advanced weaponry, according to the U.S. Pentagon’s Defense Technical Information Center.
While HMX does have limited civilian applications in sectors such as mining, the U.S. Treasury Department has warned that entities involved in its sale to Russia could face sanctions. Sanctions lawyers note that the Treasury has authority to penalize companies facilitating the transfer of such sensitive materials to Moscow.
The situation highlights the complex and often opaque nature of dual-use exports — materials that can serve both civilian and military purposes — amid growing geopolitical scrutiny.
