Ukraine says China is key route for foreign tech in Russian weapons
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A Russian air defence crew uses a 23mm anti-aircraft gun to shoot down Ukrainian attack drones.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
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BRUSSELS – Roughly 60 per cent of the foreign parts found in Russian weapons on the battlefield in Ukraine come via China, Ukraine’s presidential adviser Vladyslav Vlasiuk told reporters on Sept 24.
“If you take all the usual types of weapons and count the foreign-made components, about 60 per cent would be coming from China. We have had lengthy discussions with some manufacturers about this,” Mr Vlasiuk said.
“The PRC (People’s Republic of China) is the biggest problem, I would say,” he said, adding that important parts used in surveillance, drones and missiles have also originated from the US, the Netherlands, Japan and Switzerland, among Western countries.
Russia began a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and, despite sweeping Western sanctions, Moscow has been able to replenish its military machine with Western microchips and semiconductors. REUTERS
