A key counselor to President Volodymyr Zelenskiy told Reuters that Ukrainian forces are finding more Chinese components in Russian equipment due to sanctions.
“The weapons recovered from the battlefield we continue to find different electronics,” said Vladyslav Vlasiuk, who advises the president’s chief of staff on sanctions policy.
“The trend is less Western-produced components and more – not hard (to) anticipate which nation–created components. “Yes, China,” he replied.
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, China has denied sending military weapons. However, western bans on military and dual-use technology like microchips for appliances and weaponry prompted the attack.
Ukrainian military experts informed Reuters that Orlan aerial drones’ Swiss-made navigation systems included Chinese components.
Experts say Russian tanks with French fire control systems utilized Chinese parts.
Reuters could not independently verify the intelligence, including if the components were for non-military use or delivered to Russia by a third party.
“We’re picking (up) a lot of different stuff, China made,” Vlasiuk said.
China’s foreign ministry official told Reuters, “Throughout history, China has launched normal trade cooperation with all countries, including Russia, on the basis of equality and mutual benefit.”
China always exported military goods responsibly. China constantly behaves like this.”
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