Technology tamfitronics
Russian physicist Alexander Shiplyuk has been convicted of treason and sentenced to 15 years in a penal colony for sharing state secrets related to hypersonic weapons technology. Shiplyuk, who headed the Khristianovich Institute of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics in Novosibirsk, was found guilty in a closed-door trial held in Moscow. The court also imposed a fine of 500,000 rubles ($5,650) and an additional 1.5 years of restricted freedom.
Details regarding the charges brought against Shiplyuk have been scarce, with the nature of the information shared and the recipients remaining undisclosed. However, Russian media reports suggest that he was accused of passing sensitive data to foreign officials during a scientific conference in China in 2017.
Shiplyuk’s case is part of a larger trend, with nearly a dozen scientists, including colleagues from his own facility, facing similar accusations of treason in recent years. Anatoly Maslov, a 78-year-old colleague of Shiplyuk, was sentenced to 14 years in May for the same offense.
According to two US scientists familiar with the work of Maslov and Shiplyuk, the arrested Russians were involved in a specific aspect of developing hypersonic missiles, which includes integrating sensors, navigational systems, and propulsion. Russia has positioned itself as a global leader in hypersonic missile technology and has utilized such weapons in its conflict with Ukraine, targeting major cities.
The Russian government has been increasingly pressuring scientists and arresting academics, particularly since its invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The case of Shiplyuk adds to the cloud of suspicion surrounding individuals involved in sensitive military research in Russia.
