China helps russia circumvent sanctions and supplies components for drones

According to Estonian intelligence, about 80% of such components entering russia now come from China.

According to previous Ukrainian reports, approximately 60% of the foreign parts found in russian weapons on the battlefield in Ukraine came through China.

The Estonians note that China is "the main center of imports of high-tech and dual-use goods to russia, bypassing Western sanctions."

The report emphasized that russia has no domestic alternatives for drone spare parts, so they are mostly supplied from the West.

“The Chinese government promotes bilateral cooperation and covert transfers of dual-use components through private companies,” it said.

Estonian intelligence noted that such an approach "is likely to reduce russia's dependence on Western components and, in the long run, could undermine the west's ability to influence this area."

According to Estonian intelligence, the schemes probably involve offices of Western companies in China.

"China's interests here are to prevent russia from losing the war in Ukraine, as such an outcome would mean a victory for the United States, which is China's main rival," Kaupo Rosin, the service's director general, told reporters in a video call.

Source: Reuters