Chinese Drone Components Fuel Russia-Ukraine War: A Global Supply Chain Battle

• Drones are now critical in the Russia-Ukraine war, used for surveillance, targeting, and attack, causing the majority of recent casualties.
• The essential components for these drones, from motors to cameras, are overwhelmingly manufactured in China, making both Russia and Ukraine dependent on the same Chinese suppliers.
• Chinese factories manage Russian and Ukrainian buyers separately due to political sensitivities, yet technology transfer between the two sides is evident.
• Officially neutral, China has banned sensitive drone tech exports, but enforcement is uneven, with Russian buyers often outbidding Ukrainian firms or relocating production.
• Despite sanctions and export controls, the supply chain remains resilient, with components reaching both sides through workarounds, highlighting China's indispensable role in the conflict.

Why It Matters: Chinese-made drone components are central to the Russia-Ukraine war, highlighting China's critical, complex role.