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Chinese parts found in Shahed UAVs - Zelenskyy answers with sanctions after Russia attacked Kyiv

Chinese parts found in Shahed UAVs - Zelenskyy answers with sanctions after Russia attacked Kyiv Photo: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (GettyImages)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has enacted a decision by the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine titled "On Applying Personal Special Economic and Other Restrictive Measures (Sanctions)" against five companies registered in China, the Presidential Office of Ukraine reports.

According to the published document, sanctions have been imposed on China Asia Silk Road International Trade (Tianjin) Co., Suzhou ECOD Precision Manufacturing Co., Shenzhen Royol Technology Co., Shenzhen Jinduoban Technology Co., and Ningbo BLIN Machinery Co.

As explained by Ukraine's Sanctions Commissioner Vladyslav Vlasiuk, during the Russian air attack on Kyiv on the night of July 4, components of Chinese origin were discovered in downed Shahed drones. The sanctions were introduced against the companies that supplied these components.

"In particular, among the sanctioned firms are Ningbo BLIN Machinery Co., and Suzhou ECOD Precision Manufacturing Co., which supplied products to Russian enterprises already under sanctions in 2024 and 2025," Vlasiuk said.

China–Russia connection

Despite active trade relations between China and Russia, Beijing has repeatedly claimed it does not supply weapons to either side of the war.

However, since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, there have been numerous reports indicating that China is helping Moscow circumvent Western sanctions. In September 2024, Western media reported evidence of secret weapons transfers from Chinese companies to Russia.

Furthermore, Vasiuk previously stated in an interview with Reuters, about 60% of foreign components found in Russian weapons on the battlefield originate from China.

Earlier this spring, President Zelenskyy said that China was supplying weapons to Russia.