a guy from the US owned that tube-manufacturing company.
That guy is Mike Matthews, of Electro-Harmonix/New Sensor/Sovtek (and Guild Foxey Lady) fame. He was one of the first guys to go into Russia after the fall, and built his business on what was at the time a much more open and Westward-looking place.
The picture is much, much different thirty years later, and I'm very concerned for everyone on the globe. I'm sure Mike Matthews is too.
I'm a tube guy, but I've got what's probably a lifetime stash of the NOS tubes I need. I'm looking forward to what Western Electric will have to offer in the future.