4 hrs ago
Report Says Chinese Firm Supplied Russia Drone Material
A report says a Chinese state-owned company sent Russia a material used to make strong, lightweight drone bodies.
The shipment reportedly weighed about 46 tonnes.
It went to a Russian company connected to Rosatom, a state-owned nuclear corporation.
Some experts say the material could help make as many as 1,300 long-range kamikaze drones.
The shipping papers reportedly described the material as a civilian fibre product.
That has raised questions about whether sanctions were avoided.
US and British officials reviewed the documents, and one US official said they appeared legitimate.
Rosatom said its companies followed all laws and rules.
China says it does not provide military help to either side in the Ukraine war.
The allegations could increase pressure on China before a planned meeting between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping.
Shipping records reportedly show Jilin Chemical Fiber Group sent about 46 tonnes of carbon-fibre-related material to Russia.
The shipment went to Alabuga-Volokno, a Rosatom subsidiary involved in advanced composites production.
Documents allegedly used civilian synthetic-fibre customs classifications, raising possible sanctions-evasion concerns.
US and British authorities reviewed the records, and a US official said the House China committee found them legitimate.
Rosatom denied violating sanctions or customs rules, while China denied providing military support to Russia.
- Who
- Jilin Chemical Fiber Group, a Chinese state-owned company, reportedly supplied material to Alabuga-Volokno, a Russian Rosatom subsidiary.
- What
- A shipment of about 46 tonnes of material used to produce carbon fibre for drone airframes was reportedly sent to Russia.
- Where
- The material was shipped from China to Alabuga-Volokno in Russia’s Tatarstan region.
- When
- The shipment was reportedly made earlier this year; the revelations come before a planned meeting between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping later this month.
- Why
- The shipment could support Russian military production and may raise questions about sanctions evasion because the material was reportedly classified as a civilian synthetic-fibre product.
Concerns About Military Support
Denials and Compliance Claims
Nature of the shipment
Concerns About Military Support
The Ukrainian Security and Cooperation Centre and experts cited in the report say the records indicate a direct supply link to a Russian entity involved in military production.
Denials and Compliance Claims
Rosatom said it and its enterprises operate in full compliance with applicable laws and regulatory requirements and called contrary claims false.
Possible sanctions evasion
Concerns About Military Support
The reported use of a customs classification associated with civilian synthetic fibres could indicate an effort to disguise a shipment with military relevance, according to the report’s allegations.
Denials and Compliance Claims
The available article does not establish that the classification was deliberately misleading, and Rosatom rejected claims that its companies violated sanctions or customs rules.
China’s role in the war
Concerns About Military Support
The documents could increase pressure on Beijing to restrict exports that may reach Russia’s military supply chain.
Denials and Compliance Claims
China has denied supplying weapons or military support to Russia and says it maintains normal trade with Moscow.
Key facts
- Reported supplier
- Jilin Chemical Fiber Group, a Chinese state-owned company
- Russian recipient
- Alabuga-Volokno, a Rosatom subsidiary
- Shipment size
- About 46 tonnes
- Material use
- Producing carbon fibre for lightweight, strong drone airframes
- Estimated output
- David Albright estimated the shipment could provide carbon fibre for up to 1,300 kamikaze drones
- Document reviewers
- US and British authorities reportedly reviewed the records; a US official said the US House Select Committee on China found them legitimate
- Official responses
- Rosatom denied violations, while China denied supplying military support to Russia
Quotes
Rosatom spokesperson
Spokesperson for Russia’s state-owned nuclear corporation Rosatom
“Rosatom and its enterprises operate in full compliance with applicable laws and regulatory requirements”
firstpost.com
Sources
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