AMSTERDAM, Sept 5 (Reuters) - Russian firms were able to

obtain spare parts for 25-year-old ASML chipmaking

machines in 2022 to 2023 on secondary markets despite European

Union sanctions, Dutch newspaper Trouw reported on Thursday,

citing Russian customs documents.

ASML, Europe's largest technology firm, dominates the market

for advanced lithography systems, which use light beams to help

create the circuitry of chips.

Although its 1990s-era tools are not considered "dual use"

equipment with potential military applications, they would still

be useful for Russian companies making analogue chips for the

country's war in Ukraine, including for drones.

However, following Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine,

European sanctions have blocked sales of electronics equipment

to Russia.

ASML told Reuters that it abides by the sanctions, and that

even before they were imposed, it had sold few tools in Russia.

"ASML doesn't sell products or services to Russia and

doesn't interact with Russian distributors. Nothing has been

sent by ASML to Russia in recent years and sanctions restrict

the sale of PAS and Twinscan systems, as well as spare parts, to

Russia" it said in an emailed response to queries.

The Trouw story focused on ASML's PAS-5500 tools, which date

from the 1990s and 2000s, when ASML was an up-and-coming

challenger to the top companies of the day, Japan's Nikon ( NINOF )

and Canon. It said Russian trading firms

bought the spare parts through Chinese middlemen.

Reuters was not able to independently verify the report.

The PAS-5500 is no longer being built, but most of those

made in the past are still in operation. Used machines are

sometimes sold or refurbished and ASML makes and sells spare

parts to accredited owners.

The Trouw story said it had viewed documents showing 170

instances of relevant spare parts being imported by Russian

firms. It said the firms involved declined comment while the

Chinese vendors were untraceable.

(Reporting by Toby Sterling; Editing by Emelia

Sithole-Matarise)