China ships drone engines to Russia disguised as cooling units, Reuters
Photo: China ships drone engines to Russia disguised as refrigerators (facebook.com/worldeconomicforum)
Chinese military engines are being secretly shipped to Russia, disguised as "industrial refrigeration units," to bypass Western sanctions, according to Reuters.
The agency states that engines produced by Xiamen Limbach Aviation Engine Co. are shipped to the Russian defense company Kupol under the label of industrial refrigeration units."
After the US and EU imposed sanctions on Xiamen and several other companies in October 2024, a new Chinese firm, Beijing Xichao International Technology and Trade, took over the parts supply.
It is this company that has been transferring the components to the Russian side — as confirmed by invoices, customs declarations, and internal Kupol correspondence.
An internal Kupol document obtained by Reuters shows that in 2025, the company signed a contract with the Russian Defense Ministry to produce over 6,000 Garpia drones, up from 2,000 the previous year. As of April 2025, more than 1,500 units had already been delivered.
According to Ukrainian military intelligence, Russia is launching around 500 of these drones every month, targeting military and civilian sites deep within Ukraine's rear.
Labeling the items as cooling devices allows them to be exported to Russia without raising suspicion from Chinese authorities, one of the sources told Reuters.
Meanwhile, Beijing has officially denied the improper supply of dual-use goods to Russia.
Sanctions against Russia
Sanctions against Russia during the full-scale war have become one of the main tools of international pressure.
Their goal is to limit the enemy's economic capabilities, particularly in the energy sector, and undermine its financial stability.
Additionally, sanctions are often aimed at specific companies and individuals who support or are directly involved in military aggression.
On July 18, EU member state ambassadors agreed on the 18th package of sanctions against Russia.
The EU is already working on the 19th sanctions package as well.
Recently, the European Union also added two Chinese financial institutions and five Chinese-registered companies to the sanctions list, citing China's close ties with Russia as the war continues. The sanctions target, among others, banks involved in cryptocurrency transactions.
In response, Beijing officially expressed dissatisfaction with the European Union.
