The Telegraph: China Secretly Supplies Russia With Drone Components

In 2023-2024, Chinese companies supplied Russian drone manufacturers under sanctions with materials worth more than $63 million. This was during a period when Moscow was actively developing its domestic infrastructure for drone production.

A quarter of this amount, approximately $14.3 million, is attributable to companies involved in the production of Shahed drones. They are manufactured in the Alabuga Special Economic Zone in the Republic of Tatarstan, according to an investigation by The Telegraph.

The materials supplied include motors, microcircuits, metal alloys, lenses, fiberglass, emulsion binders, and carbon fibers. These are key components for the production of drones.

Despite its official neutrality, The Telegraph identified 97 Chinese suppliers cooperating with Russian manufacturers.

China avoids direct involvement in the war, as North Korea did, but allows the export of dual-use goods. This contributes to the record volume of bilateral trade, which reached $281 billion in 2024.

In July, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told European officials that Beijing cannot allow Russia to lose the war. According to him, this would open the way for the United States to increase pressure on China. The next day, Ukrainian Minister Andriy Sybiga posted a photo of a Chinese part from a Shahed drone shot down over Kyiv.

Among the suppliers are Changzhou Utek Composite, Taishan Fiberglass, Jilin Hongsheng Trading, and others. They sent fiberglass, carbon fiber, and binders to Alabuga.

Harbin Bin-Au Technology and Jinhua Hairun Power Technology supplied engines worth $1.1 million to the Russian company Drake LLC.

“Ural Civil Aviation Plant, which produces Forpost drones, received $4 million worth of engines from Ningbo Peak Cloud Import and Export.

Five Russian companies – Ural Civil Aviation Plant, Akmetron, PT-Electronics, Radioline, and Morgan LLC – import most of their Chinese components.

The Alabuga plant produces advanced models of drones – the Garpiya and the Gerbera. “The Garpiya is powered by Chinese engines from Xiamen Limbach Aircraft Engine. In the first half of 2024, more than 2,000 of these drones were manufactured, almost as many as in the entire previous year.

Mile Hao Xiang Technology supplied engines worth $1.7 million. Alabuga-Fiber LLC imported 3000 tons of carbon fiber worth $24.8 million. Morgan LLC received $5.8 million worth of goods, including lithium batteries designated as “special military operation”.