China has increased the supply of drone components to Russia tenfold
The volume of Chinese components supplied to Russia for the production and use of combat drones in Ukraine increased several times in 2025. The Russian army is particularly active in deploying drones equipped with fiber optic control systems, which complicate the work of Ukrainian electronic warfare systems. Thanks to these technologies, Russian troops have partially blocked supply routes on the front line and are conducting attacks on civilians in frontline cities. Without significant support from China, such successes would be considerably smaller.
This is reported by AgroReview
Record volumes of fiber optic cable supplies
In May and June 2025, a record increase in the export of fiber optic cables from China to Russia was recorded. In August, this figure rose nearly tenfold, reaching 524,800 kilometers. Experts point out that the high cost of shipments relative to their weight indicates their military purpose. According to estimates, the August volume of supplies from China is sufficient to equip 26,240 drones if the cables are used entirely for this purpose.
In contrast, China also exports fiber optic cables to Ukraine, but in much smaller volumes — in August, this figure was only 115 kilometers. Despite China’s official refusal to export finished drones to Russia, the export of key components for them indicates continued support for the Russian military-industrial complex.
Impact on the front line and changes in trade dynamics
“If you look at how the front line is changing, Russia is capturing territory in chunks equal to the distance that drones can fly on fiber optics,” says Kateryna Bondar, a researcher at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
At the same time, the supply of non-military Chinese goods that help the Russian economy avoid shortages and the impact of sanctions is rapidly decreasing. Despite Kremlin calls to boost mutual trade, in September 2025, China’s exports to Russia fell by 21% to $8.85 billion, the lowest level since February. The decline is accelerating: in July, the drop was 8.6% year-on-year, and in August — 16.4%. Over the nine months of the current year, imports from China to Russia decreased by 10.6%.