According to Reuters, Chinese engines are supplied to the Russian manufacturer of unmanned aerial vehicles under the guise of 'industrial refrigeration units' to avoid detection after sanctions were imposed.
Such supplies have allowed the Russian arms manufacturer IEMZ 'Kupol' to increase production of the strike drone 'Garpia-A1', even during the US and EU sanctions imposed in October.
An internal document of the 'Kupol' company confirms the signing of a contract with the Russian Ministry of Defense for the production of more than 6,000 'Garpias' this year, compared to 2,000 in 2024. More than 1,500 drones had already been supplied by April.
This drone is used for attacks on civilian and military facilities in Ukraine, with Russia deploying about 500 such drones each month. These components are also used in the 'Geran' drones, the Russian version of the 'Shahed' drone.
The Chinese Foreign Minister, according to the chief diplomat of the EU, expressed interest in continuing the war in Ukraine to focus US attention on China, indicating the formation of a new 'axis of evil' and hostility towards the West.
As a result, it has been found that Chinese engines marked as 'industrial refrigeration units' are being supplied to the Russian manufacturer of unmanned aerial vehicles and help increase the production of drones used for attacks in Ukraine and observed in Russian drone versions.