Since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, China has been helping to replenish supplies of Russian drones. Beijing has already sent more than 12 million dollars worth of drones and spare parts to Moscow.
This is reported by The New York Times.
It is noted that after the start of the full-scale invasion, the Russian Federation and China did not suspend "quiet cooperation" in the military sphere. According to the official data of the Russian customs, over the past year, China has sold drones and spare parts for them to Russia in the amount of more than 12 million dollars.
The publication notes that it is not known whether the Chinese drones transferred to the Russian Federation contain American technologies.
Russia received the most drones from China's DJI. The company is one of the world's most famous manufacturers of drones. The company's products arrived in the Russian Federation through small intermediaries and exporters.
"Official sales are likely only part of a larger flow of technology through unofficial channels and other Russia-friendly countries such as Kazakhstan, Pakistan and Belarus," it said.
The NYT recalled that the United States has imposed sanctions against Chinese companies that supply Russia with drones or circumvent export controls. However, according to the publication, efforts to isolate Russia from technology are complicated by China's dominance in the global electronics supply chain.
In total, almost 70 Chinese companies sold 26 different brands of Chinese drones to Russia over the past year. The second largest brand was Autel, which sold nearly $2 million worth of drones, with the last shipment shipped in February 2023.
