Yesterday at 19:20
New data reveal that Chinese exports of critical drone components to Russia have surged, suggesting Beijing’s ongoing commitment to its so-called “no-limits partnership” with Moscow, The Washington Post reported.
According to the trade intelligence firm Sayari, Russian company Rustakt LLC imported over $577 million worth of engines, lithium-ion batteries, and electronic parts from Chinese suppliers between July 2023 and December 2024.
Although the European Union sanctioned Rustakt in December 2024, its Chinese partners — including Shenzhen Huaxin Energy, a battery manufacturer, and Nasmin Technology, owned by Shenzhen Kiosk Electric — remain outside Western restrictions and continue to operate freely. Both companies declined to respond to press inquiries.
Analysts note that these transactions expose loopholes in international export-control systems, which allow sanctioned Russian entities to bypass restrictions and access key materials through intermediaries in China.
The Ukrainian think tank StateWatch had already flagged this trend in its late-2024 and early-2025 reports, warning about China’s growing role in equipping Russia’s FPV drone production and sharing its findings with international partners.
