InformNapalm Finds Chinese Links to Companies Developing Russian Kurier UGV

The developers of the Russian Kurier unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) are linked to companies that have repeatedly filed declarations of conformity for Chinese electronics, batteries, radio modules and other equipment in Russia.

This is stated in a study by the international intelligence community InformNapalm.

Analysts examined documents from companies linked to the developers of the Kurier UGV and found dozens of Russian declarations of conformity for Chinese-origin products.

The key legal entity in the study is Moscow-based NRTK KAPS LLC, whose CEO and sole owner is Zorikto Gombozhapov.

In Russia’s registry of declarations of conformity, InformNapalm found dozens of documents from 2025-2026 in which NRTK KAPS acted as the applicant, while the equipment manufacturer was listed as the Chinese company HD LED TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD. of Shenzhen.

The product range included radio modules, radio modems, chargers, batteries, IP cameras, power supplies, and other electronic equipment. Particularly notable in terms of volume was a declaration dated July 30, 2025, covering a batch of 4,200 WTX-2S6 batteries and 8,400 WTX-2A2DC batteries — a total of 12,600 batteries.

Meanwhile, the researchers emphasize that a declaration of conformity is not a customs declaration and, by itself, does not confirm the actual import into Russia of all the equipment listed. Likewise, the documents do not allow them to conclude that all of these components were used directly in the production of the Kurier UGV.

InformNapalm also highlighted the role of HD LED TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD. In Russian declarations, the company is listed as the manufacturer of a wide range of electronics. However, the researchers found that, at least for some products, another Chinese company may have been the actual manufacturer.

In one Russian declaration, HD LED was listed as the manufacturer of the JY-ME02-CAN encoder. At the same time, the device is a product of the Chinese company WIT Motion from Shenzhen.

According to the researchers, this may indicate several possible interaction models, including contract manufacturing, resale, or product consolidation. Gombozhapov’s Chinese links can be traced back to before the main body of NRTK KAPS declarations emerged.

Another company headed by him, HD LLC, declared products from China’s SHENZHEN DICOLOR GROUP CO., LTD. and Unilumin Group Co., Ltd. in 2024. In 2015, Gombozhapov was also a co-owner of NIHAO LLC with Chinese citizen Du Tianzhu.

The dependence of Russia’s unmanned sector on Chinese components has been documented before. In April, Militarnyi reported that, according to data from an internal meeting of Russia’s Ministry of Industry and Trade, about 90% of components for Russian drones are imported from China.

Kurier

The Kurier is a Russian multipurpose remotely controlled UGV used for logistics and combat missions. The system can transport ammunition and other cargo, evacuate wounded personnel, conduct reconnaissance and mine-laying, and carry weapons.

The platform has been equipped with PKTM 7.62 mm machine guns, NSVT or Kord heavy machine guns, as well as AGS-17 and AGS-30 automatic grenade launchers.

Recently, Russian airborne troops airdropped the Kurier UGV from an Il-76 military transport aircraft for the first time during the Center-2026 exercises. The vehicle was dropped from an altitude of about 600 meters using a P-7 parachute platform.

The developers of the Kurier UGV are also linked to another Russian unmanned project. InformNapalm identified the companies and individuals involved in producing the Russian Mangas heavy bomber drone and also traced its connection to the developers of the Kurier UGV.