The skies over Kyiv are once again filled with the ominous hum of attack drones. Nearly 500 were launched during a Russian assault in the early hours of June 10th, a number Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warns could soon double. What’s becoming alarmingly clear is the source behind Russia’s increasingly sophisticated war machine: China.
The infamous Shahed drones, originally of Iranian design and now manufactured within Russia, were once loaded with Western components. But Ukrainian intelligence confirms that the latest models are primarily equipped with Chinese parts. One wrecked drone this year contained only two American components out of fifteen, with the rest traced back to Chinese manufacturers.
China’s involvement in Russia’s war effort may not yet include tanks or battalions, but its contribution is arguably more dangerous—sophisticated technology, critical components, and battlefield-tested systems. As noted by Ukraine’s HUR agency, many of the new Shaheds feature Chinese-made antennae and electronics. China walks a fine line, officially denying lethal aid while continuing to supply the components that make such systems function.
American and European intelligence reports suggest that since 2023, China has provided Russia with drone parts, weapons components, and possibly even small amounts of artillery ammunition. Ukrainian forces discovered Chinese mortar shells near Melitopol last year, though whether they were sent directly or funneled through third-party states remains unclear.
This mirrors past controversies involving indirect military cooperation. For instance, Russia’s defense ties with Chinahave deepened as Moscow finds itself isolated. A Reuters investigation uncovered that Russian defense firm AO IEMZ Kupol developed and tested the Garpiya-3 drone—an Iranian Shahed clone—in China, with Chinese firms providing engines and other critical support.
Sir Grant Shapps, the former UK Defence Secretary, declassified British intelligence in 2024 to reveal the extent of this cooperation. Despite Chinese denials, officials say the drone is a lethal system and not merely dual-use tech.
But beyond drones, the scale of support widens. Chinese representatives have allegedly been spotted at Russian arms production facilities, according to President Zelensky and corroborated by European defense sources. This is about more than parts—China is gaining valuable operational insights by observing its technology in real-time combat environments.
China has also reportedly tightened drone export rules to both Russia and Ukraine, but applies them unevenly. Zelensky claims Ukraine is being cut off from key gear while Russia continues to receive supplies.
Meanwhile, China’s dominance in the nitrocellulose market—used in explosives—further boosts Russia’s production capacity. Fiber-optic tech, machine tools, gunpowder, and other industrial inputs continue flowing across the border. According to the Economic Security Council of Ukraine, China accounted for up to 90% of Russia’s machine tool imports in 2023–24.
For China, the benefits are strategic. Western sources suggest Moscow and Beijing may be exchanging captured Western technologies from Ukraine’s battlefield, including precision-guided missiles and advanced aerospace systems. The Politico previously explored similar shifts in global defense alignment.
But even in this growing alliance, distrust festers. The Russian FSB has arrested several domestic scientists over alleged leaks to Chinese counterparts, pointing to internal paranoia despite outward camaraderie. These cracks echo past tensionswhere Russia’s industrial secrecy was compromised by foreign access.
The troubling reality is that without China’s industrial backbone, Russia’s war machine would stall. Its drones might fly less often, its shells would be fewer, and its battlefield intelligence far dimmer. As Europe debates the future of its defense funding and navigates complex relations with global powers, the deepening China-Russia axis will demand sharper scrutiny and coordinated policy action.
