On September 25, 2025, Reuters reported that Chinese engineers visited the Izhevsk Electromechanical Plant “Kupol” at least six times between 2024 and 2025 to assist in developing and testing military drones. Kupol, a key Russian defense manufacturer under Western sanctions, also received shipments of Chinese strike and reconnaissance drones during this period.
Evidence of China’s involvement in Russia’s drone production
Documents, including invoices and bank records reviewed by Reuters, indicate that Kupol acquired more than a dozen drones in 2024 from Sichuan AEE, a Chinese drone manufacturer. These were supplied via Russia’s sanctioned defense procurement firm, Vector. Earlier reports revealed Kupol’s production of thousands of Harpy loitering munitions, which use Chinese components such as engines and are modeled on Iranian Shahed drones, capable of flying hundreds of kilometers before striking programmed targets. Corporate records from Sichuan AEE confirm delivery of A140 and A900 strike drones to Russia, alongside plans for additional models such as A60, A100, and A200.
Technical collaboration and testing
According to documents, Chinese teams visited Kupol’s facilities in Izhevsk to assemble drones and train personnel, then traveled to a testing range in Chebarkul, Chelyabinsk region. Another connection involves Hunan Haotianyi’s HW52V drone, which Kupol and Vector approved for testing in the third quarter of 2024. The HW52V, capable of vertical takeoff and landing, can serve for reconnaissance, target designation, and strike operations.
Diplomatic implications and Chinese position
China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has denied knowledge of such cooperation, stating that Beijing “always maintains an objective and fair stance on the Ukraine crisis” and “never provides lethal weapons to any party,” while claiming strict control over dual-use exports including drones. However, the disclosed facts challenge this narrative, raising questions about China’s declared neutrality. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky argued at the UN Security Council that China could compel Russia to end its war, given Moscow’s dependency on Beijing. This collaboration suggests Beijing may instead be enabling continued conflict, undermining its self-portrayal as a neutral mediator.
Strategic stakes and broader consequences
Analysts note that China appears to have a strategic interest in prolonging the war in Ukraine, as a drawn-out conflict strains Ukraine and Western unity, while deepening Russia’s reliance on Chinese technology and economic support. This evolving dynamic positions Russia increasingly as a junior partner to Beijing, granting China greater leverage. Kupol’s reliance on Chinese drone technology demonstrates China’s integration into Russia’s military supply chain, with Chinese components now critical to Russian drone capabilities.
The cooperation allows Russia to maintain and expand production of advanced loitering munitions despite sanctions, weakening the effectiveness of Western restrictions. For Ukraine, this means an enduring threat to cities, infrastructure, and military targets, as the proliferation of kamikaze drones intensifies pressure on its air defenses and sustains a climate of constant danger for civilians.
China’s involvement in Russian drone development marks a significant shift in the conflict’s technological landscape and underscores potential ramifications for international security and sanction regimes.
