Bloomberg: Kyiv accuses Beijing of favoring Russia in drone supplies

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on May 27 that China has halted drone sales to Ukraine and other European nations, while continuing to supply drones and components to Russia.

“Chinese Mavic is open for Russians but is closed for Ukrainians,” Zelenskyy told reporters, referring to the popular civilian quadcopter model commonly repurposed for military use, Caliber.Az reports, citing recent material by Bloomberg.

“There are production lines on Russian territory where there are Chinese representatives,” he added.

The Mavic drone, originally designed for aerial photography, has become a key tool in modern warfare. Both Ukraine and Russia have adapted these drones for reconnaissance missions and frontline strikes, with some modified to carry small explosives.

Drones have increasingly shaped combat dynamics in Ukraine, with their deployment helping to restrict enemy movements and enabling deep strikes behind frontlines. Their tactical importance has grown, especially as Ukraine works to overcome its disadvantage in artillery shell supplies compared to Russia.

According to a European official familiar with the matter, Zelenskyy’s remarks align with internal assessments in European capitals. The official noted that China appears to have simultaneously reduced shipments of certain drone components — such as magnets used in motors — to Western buyers, while increasing such exports to Russia.

“When someone is asking whether China is helping Russia, how shall we assess these steps?” Zelenskyy asked rhetorically.

Bloomberg previously reported that Chinese manufacturers began cutting back exports of key drone parts to the US and Europe late last year, a move interpreted by Western officials as a precursor to broader export controls.

China has denied that it is supplying military-grade technology to either side in the war. In a statement sent to Bloomberg News, the Chinese foreign ministry reiterated its position: “China’s stance on the Ukraine issue has been consistent and clear: we have been committed to stopping the war and promoting peace talks. China has never provided any side with lethal weapons and strictly controls dual-use items. China firmly opposes baseless accusations and political manipulation.”

Despite those claims, Bloomberg reported last summer that Chinese and Russian firms were cooperating on the development of attack drones. In response, both the United States and European Union have sanctioned several Chinese companies for providing critical components to Moscow’s drone production lines, including in the EU’s latest sanctions package adopted earlier this month.

While the artillery shell gap between Russia and Ukraine has narrowed since last year, Russia still maintains an advantage. In response, Ukraine has increasingly relied on drone warfare to make up for ammunition shortages in what has become a prolonged war of attrition.

To boost its defence, Ukraine in March launched the “Drone Line” initiative. The project aims to establish a 15-kilometre (9-mile) deep “kill zone” along the front to disrupt Russian troop movement and support Ukrainian ground forces with aerial surveillance and strikes.

Zelenskyy said Ukraine is aiming to manufacture between 300 and 500 combat drones every 24 hours. However, the challenge lies not in production capacity but in securing the necessary funding. “There is no issue in production capacity,” he emphasised. “The issue is in financing.”

By Tamilla Hasanova