Chinese companies sold $8 million worth of components to Russia for the production of fake drones, 21 November 2024

...In 2023, LT Global Forwarding imported cameras from the Chinese company Topotek for $5 M. According to the War and Sanctions portal of the Ukrainian Main Intelligence Directorate, Topotek cameras were found in Russian Gerbera drones.

In 2023, LT Global Forwarding also imported data processing devices and antennas manufactured by the Chinese company Xingkaitech for $1.9 M. This is probably the XK-F358 mesh network modules, which are also used in Gerbera drones.

In addition to cameras and data processing devices, in 2023, Chinese companies supplied $1.1 M worth of engines for radio-controlled aircraft manufactured by Mile Hao Xiang Technology to Russia. According to the War and Sanctions portal, Mile Hao Xiang Technology engines were found in the Gerbera and Parodya unmanned aerial vehicles. These drones are used by the Russian army as fake targets to overwhelm Ukrainian air defense.

Since June 2024, China’s Mile Hao Xiang Technology has been under USsanctions for supplying components to Russia. However, the largest supplier of the found engines in 2023 was the Chinese company Yiwu City Duniang Trading, which supplied products worth $963 K.

Most of the engines were imported by the Russian company Sequoia, which is registered in the Skolkovo Technology Park, a science and technology center responsible for Russia’s strategic scientific research. Skolkovo has been under U.S. sanctions since 2022 for its work in the technology and defence sectors of the Russian economy...