EU’s concerns over China’s supplies of attack drone components to Russia

The European Union is seriously concerned about the information that China is supplying Russia with components for the production of attack drones that the Kremlin is using on the battlefield against Ukraine. This was announced at a briefing in Brussels on February 27 by EU Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Anouar El-Anouni.

Chinese firms supply Russia with attack drone components – European Commission spokesman

The EU representative emphasized that companies from China supply Russia with components for attack drones and, in some cases, even assembled attack drones.

“We are seriously concerned about reports that Chinese companies are supplying components for attack drones that Russia is using on the battlefield—or even fully assembled attack drones,” Anouar El-Anouni said.

Brussels does not digest the commercial ties that fuel Russian war operations. “China is the main supplier of dual-use technologies,” civilian and military, such as drones and components, “which support Russia’s military-industrial base, Kaja Kallas’ spokesman further charges.

“These technologies are then used on the battlefield” to fight regular Ukrainian forces and proceed with the offensive, El Anouni stated. They are assets with military applications,” he insists. 

The European Commission spokesman emphasized that “without China’s support for Russia, Russia would not be able to continue its aggressive war against Ukraine with the same strength”.

He reminded that “the EU strongly condemns the continued support of Russia’s aggressive war by third countries and calls on them to stop all assistance.”

“China is the largest supplier of dual-use and sensitive goods that support Russia’s military-industrial base and are used mainly on the battlefield,” El Anouni stated.

China-Russia cooperation in drone production

The U.S.-based outlet Bloomberg reported, quoting European officials, that Chinese and Russian companies are reportedly working on a kamikaze drone modeled after the Iranian-made Shahed-class unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).

The unnamed officials said the companies first held talks in 2023 and started developing and testing a model this year. In 2024, a Chinese company unveiled the Sunflower 200, which bears a striking resemblance to the Iranian-made Shahed-136 drone used by Russia in its war against Ukraine.

“Providing Russia a Shahed-like attack drone would mark a deepening of Beijing’s support for Russia despite repeated warnings from the US and its allies. President Xi Jinping has sought to portray China as neutral in the conflict in Ukraine even as western officials say it’s provided components and other support for Russian president Vladimir Putin’s forces,” Bloomberg concluded.

Estonia’s foreign intelligence said in its annual national security report published in February stated that China is helping Russia’s military drone production by becoming a hub for the smuggling of critical Western components for Moscow’s armed forces.

Some 80% of such components reaching Russia now come from China, it said. Previous Ukrainian reports have suggested that roughly 60% of foreign parts found in Russian weapons on the battlefield in Ukraine have come via China, Reuters reported.

China is Russia’s “primary hub” for importing high-tech and dual-use goods, evading Western sanctions, according to the report.

“Chinese interests here lie in preventing Russia from losing the war in Ukraine as such an outcome would represent a victory for the United States, which is the main rival for China,” Kaupo Rosin, director general of the service, told journalists in a video call.

Latest EU sanctions against Russia and its backers

On February 24, the Council of the European Union adopted the additional sanctions against Russia for its illegal invasion of Ukraine and ongoing war of aggression. The package targets 74 additional vessels, bringing the total number of listed ships to 153. These vessels are part of the shadow fleet or contributed to Russia’s energy revenues, the EU said.

The measures add a new listing criterion, targeting those who support the operations of unsafe oil tankers used by Russia to transport its oil products.

The new sanctions package imposes targeted export restrictions on 53 new companies supporting Russia’s military-industrial complex or engaged in sanctions circumvention. This includes 34 companies in other countries (not Russia).

Earlier, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the United States cannot allow Russia to become a “junior partner” of China.

Furthermore, French President Emmanuel Macron persuaded his American counterpart Donald Trump not to wage a trade war against Europe but to focus on China.