China has sold Russian drones all year and saved $ 12 million - NYT
According to the media, drones and details to them from the technological giant DJI and many small Chinese companies are consistently entering the Russian market through small intermediaries and exporters, and then sent to units of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation to the territory of Ukraine. Probably, even more UAVs are unofficially imported through third countries, such as Kazakhstan, Belarus and Pakistan.
It is difficult to determine whether China sales are completely legal, or UAVs contain technologies from the United States, which violates the rules of export control. It is difficult for experts to find violations through a branched supply network and a vague description of goods in export data. US pressure on Russia with sanctions is complicated by the dominant position of China in the global electronics supply chain.
These are commercial quadcopters such as DJI Mavic, which allow the military to conduct intelligence, adjust artillery and even strikes, dropping grenades into the positions of Ukrainians. On the front drones are often knocked out of small arms or with the help of HRs, so Russians need to constantly replenish their stocks in the same way as cartridges or shells.
According to NYT, China has become one of the most important economic and diplomatic allies of Russia, as it remains a large importer of Russian oil. By selling fuel, the Russians receive money to continue the war in Ukraine. According to officials from the United States, China still considers the possibility of selling Russian deadly weapons.
The Secretary of State Blinken believes that the meeting of China's head Xi Jinping with Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin will be a diplomatic cover for further military crimes. On February 25, information appeared that China was going to put Russia-Kamikadze drones. For a long time, the Chinese government did not dare sell to the Russians martial equipment, but is now considering this opportunity.