As War in Ukraine Grinds on, China Helps Refill Russian Drone Supplies

In place of donations, Russia has been able to purchase a consistent, if not massive, supply of drones from China. The direct sales by Chinese exporters, industry experts say, are only one part of a wider effort to procure the drones from nearby markets, where they can be bought off the shelves of retail stores.

Some experts note that the flow of Chinese drones should be considered in the same way as more deadly weapons. Even the meager $12 million in shipments “will move the needle for what is happening on the front line,” said Cole Rosentreter, chief executive of Canadian drone maker Pegasus, who has advised Ukrainians on the use of drones during the war.

“We’ve returned to warfare at industrial scale; both sides are treating drones the same as artillery shells now, because whoever has the logistical base to outproduce the other has a clear advantage on the battlefield,” he added.

To that end, even tacit support of fresh drone shipments by Mr. Xi could constitute a longer-term advantage for Russian troops. Already, it has been difficult to fully control the shipment of high-tech components like those going into drones.

Chinese companies supplying Russia, whether out of political calculus or profit incentive, sometimes use chains of intermediary companies that can include more than a dozen firms. In other cases, descriptions of shipments can be intentionally vague or underplay the total volume of goods being sent.

Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/21/business/russia-china-drones-ukraine-war.html