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Supply Chain Between China and Russia Maintains Drone Production Despite Sanctions, Revealing Gaps and Secret Trade Agreements
A series of recently obtained documents reveals how Russia has managed to maintain and even expand its military drone production, even in the face of heavy sanctions imposed by Western countries. According to the Xataka Brasil portal, the discovery involves Chinese companies, secret trade agreements, and a carefully camouflaged supply structure.
The case raises questions about China’s neutrality in the conflict and exposes flaws in the international sanctions system.
Chinese Parts in Russian Drones
The alert came from Ukrainian intelligence. During the Russian drone attacks, Chinese-origin parts were recovered from the Shahed-136/Geran-2 models used in Kiev.
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For Ukrainian authorities, this confirms that Chinese companies continue to supply the Russian military complex with electronic components and cutting-edge technology.
Vladyslav Vlasiuk, Ukraine’s sanctions commissioner, stated that China not only provides logistics but has also begun to replicate Western technologies, which increases its ability to support Russia.
This constant supply of Chinese parts has been essential for the continuity of drone production by Moscow.
Revealing Documents
The Chinese involvement became clearer following an investigation by Bloomberg. Documents revealed a collaboration network between Russian and Chinese companies, which includes special customs zones, intermediaries, and hidden agreements.
Even with the sanctions, Russia has managed to import sensitive components and technology to strengthen its production line.
The Russian company Aero-HIT, based in Khabarovsk in the far east of Russia, has become a key player in this process.
Since the early stages of the invasion of Ukraine, it has been manufacturing military drones with direct or indirect support from Chinese companies.
The Khabarovsk Factory
The city of Khabarovsk, located just 30 kilometers from the Chinese border, is home to the Aero-HIT factory.
This company, previously little known, has become one of the largest drone manufacturers in Russia. Its main model, the Veles, is a low-cost FPV drone used in operations in the Kherson region.
The US Department of the Treasury sanctioned Aero-HIT for its role in the war, but its production remains active. This is partly due to support from the Chinese manufacturer Autel Robotics.
Despite denying any involvement with Russia since 2022, the company appears in correspondence and plans from Aero-HIT, including in joint investment projects of US$ 90 million.
Technical Partnership with Autel Robotics
According to a letter released by Bloomberg, Aero-HIT and Autel Robotics resumed technical contacts in June 2025.
The negotiation involved the local production of the civil drone Autel EVO Max 4T, considered effective in combat for resisting electronic interference.
The agreement also included the transfer of firmware, debugging methods, and repair techniques.
The EVO Max 4T would be integrated into Russian systems, increasing the efficiency of the military drone line. The alliance between the companies indicated an advancement in Russia’s technological capacity during wartime.
Political and Academic Connections
The connections did not stop at the companies. Bloomberg reported that since 2022, agreements have been made between Komax (a company linked to former KGB agent Konstantin Basyuk) and representatives of the Chinese government.
Officials from the Harbin Free Trade Zone and the Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT), a university linked to the Chinese army, were involved.
The plans included the creation of an assembly factory in Khabarovsk with tax incentives. Hundreds of drone kits were sent from China, and Russian executives visited factories in Shenzhen, including Autel’s headquarters.
The project received support from the Kremlin and was declared “priority” by Yury Trutnev, the special envoy for the Far East.
Network of Commercial Disguises
To conceal the partnership with China, Aero-HIT used a network of shell companies. The businesses were disguised as catering services, logistics, seafood trade, or real estate.
These companies handled orders, invoicing, and shipping of components.
Reports from 2024 show direct deliveries of drones to Russian troops and official requests from the Ministry of Defense for thousands of units of the Veles model.
Renovatsio-Invest and Shenzhen Huasheng Industry, both sanctioned by the US, were identified as key suppliers of parts and electronics, even after trade restrictions imposed by China.
Some Chinese companies abandoned the project following new trade rules in 2023, fearing international penalties.
However, they were quickly replaced by other suppliers, ensuring that production was not interrupted.
The scheme managed to keep the logistics chain operational even under international scrutiny.
Official Denials and Contradictions
Despite the evidence, Autel Robotics continues to deny any involvement with Russia. The company claims to operate only in the civil sector, without military ties.
According to its statement, it follows strict compliance rules and severed relations with Moscow since February 2022.
However, documents obtained by Bloomberg indicate that engineers, subsidiaries, and intermediary suppliers still maintain the connection.
The evidence suggests that the flow of technology from Autel reaches Russia, even if indirectly.
China’s Position
The Chinese government claims not to provide lethal weapons to either side and insists that it strictly controls the export of dual-use items, such as drones.
However, it is unclear to what extent the government is aware of — or controlling — the involvement of its companies in the Russian war effort.
The continued shipment of technology to Moscow calls into question Beijing’s declared neutrality. At the same time, it challenges the effectiveness of the sanctions applied by the United States and allies.
Growth of Drone Production
Aero-HIT’s factory was already producing between 200 and 300 drones per month by the end of 2024. The goal is to reach 10,000 units monthly by the end of 2025.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky declared that Russia aims to achieve a production of 500 drones per day, to sustain mass attacks with swarms of drones.
This number aligns with recent bombings, where up to 500 drones were used in a single night.
The impact on civilian areas has been severe, which reinforces the importance of drones as a weapon in the current stage of the war.
Sophistication and Risk
Russia’s ability to maintain mass drone production, even under sanctions, reveals a sophisticated network of technical and commercial cooperation with China.
The use of fronts, intermediaries, and special zones allows Moscow to circumvent blockades and strengthen its military power.
The collaboration between Russia and China also exposes the fragilities of the global sanctions system. Even with companies being punished, others emerge to maintain the flow.
The case of Aero-HIT shows how modern warfare adapts to international pressure. Alliances between companies, universities, and governments allow for the continuation of military production, even in blockade scenarios.
Bloomberg’s investigation sheds light on these hidden connections and warns of the limits of diplomacy in times of prolonged conflict.
In times of prolonged war, the threat comes not only from the front lines. It camouflages, flies under the radar… and often comes with a “Made in China” label.
With information from Xataka.
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