Russia scales up drone imports from China via new loophole, Bloomberg reports
Illustrative photo: China supplies drones to Russia via Thailand (Getty Images)
Over the first 11 months of last year, Russia imported $125 million worth of drones from Thailand. These figures surged sharply after the start of the war in Ukraine, Bloomberg reports.
Read also: Russia preparing massive use of naval drones, Ukrainian intel says
The outlet writes that last year’s figures accounted for 88% of Thailand’s total drone exports and were eight times higher than in 2024. At the same time, China supplied Thailand with $186 million worth of drones during the same period.
It is noted that in 2022, Thailand’s drone exports did not exceed $1 million, and Russia did not purchase any of them.
Connection between drones and a car rental company
According to the outlet’s data, a car rental company, Skyhub Technologies, may be involved in drone exports from Thailand to Russia. Initially, it operated in the geological sector but has changed its line of business.
Last year, the company imported $25 million worth of drones, including shipments from one of China’s largest drone manufacturers, Autel Robotics.
Trade documents state that the deliveries included 976 drones with the same model code as the Autel EVO Max 4T, which costs around $9,000 per unit.
Another company, China Thai, imported $144 million worth of drones from China in the first 11 months of 2025. In October, the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on the company for supplying technology to Russia.
The company’s annual revenue increased from $450 in 2022 to $813,000 in 2024. It was later renamed Lanto Global Logistics.
Links between Russian and Chinese companies
Bloomberg reports that last year, the Russian company Aero HIT approached Russia’s Ministry of Defense seeking financial support to localize production of the EVO Max 4T, which has proven highly effective in the war.
At the same time, Autel said it had not cooperated with Aero HIT and was unaware of the proposal. The company stressed that its drones are intended for civilian use and are equipped with a "no-fly geofencing system" designed to prevent their use in the war in Ukraine.
Phantong Loykulnanta, director general of Thailand’s Customs Department, stated that the export of Chinese drones from Thailand is not prohibited under current legislation.
Meanwhile, Russia’s oil exports to China are rising sharply and could set a new historical record as early as February. The increase is driven by discounts on Russian oil and reduced purchases by India.
