A secretive supply chain between Chinese tech firms and Russia’s military drone sector has helped sustain Moscow’s war on Ukraine, even as global sanctions aim to isolate Russia’s defense industry. A comprehensive investigation by Bloomberg, based on internal memos, procurement orders, and government correspondence, reveals how Chinese parts, technology, and personnel are central to Russia’s drone war—and how this cooperation has evaded international scrutiny.

At the heart of the operation is Aero-HIT, a Russian drone manufacturer based near the Chinese border in Khabarovsk. Documents from late 2022 to mid-2025 show that the firm secured direct and indirect cooperation with Chinese drone manufacturers, allowing it to ramp up production despite sanctions.

Building Russia’s Drone Arsenal with Chinese Know-How

Facing an urgent need for drones after the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russia moved quickly to establish its own domestic production network—leaning heavily on Chinese expertise. Aero-HIT partnered with Chinese firms to localize production of drones like the Autel EVO Max 4T, a civilian drone adapted for battlefield use.

The EVO Max 4T is prized for its resistance to electronic warfare, long-range capabilities, and real-time FPV (First Person View) features. Aero-HIT’s documents describe it as a game-changing tool for front-line units and propose a $90 million investment to produce 30,000 units annually.

Despite Autel Robotics’ public denials of any cooperation with Russia, multiple documents cite ongoing technical collaboration with Autel engineers since early 2023. The partnership was briefly paused following Western sanctions but resumed in late 2024.

Aero-HIT claimed the drone’s civilian design made it ideal for adaptation—allowing Moscow to circumvent “lethal weapon” definitions in sanctions law while acquiring powerful battlefield tools.

Russian Military Integration and Civilian Targeting

Aero-HIT’s main product, the Veles FPV drone, has been deployed across front lines, including in Kherson, a region partially reoccupied by Ukraine. Reports from Ukrainian and Western sources indicate these drones have been used not just for reconnaissance or anti-armor roles, but to target civilians and civilian infrastructure, including schools and residential blocks.

These drones are cheap, effective, and scalable—with some production orders pricing the Veles at around $1,000 per unit. Orders and communications reveal demand from multiple branches of the Russian military, including the 76th Guards Air Assault Division and other elite units.

In March 2024, 20 Veles drones and related batteries were delivered via Aeromar-DV, a catering company with no prior record in military procurement. This obfuscation, using companies in real estate, seafood, or logistics, is part of a broader effort to mask Russia’s drone-building operation.

A Strategic Partnership Rooted in the Far East

The documents trace the origins of the collaboration to a meeting between Russian delegates and Chinese officials in the Harbin Comprehensive Bonded Zone in 2022. A proposal emerged to build a bonded warehouse and drone assembly line at Khabarovsk Airport, about 20 miles from the Chinese border.

Key players included:

• Komax, a Russian company owned by former KGB officer and senator for occupied Kherson, Konstantin Basyuk.
• The Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT)—a top Chinese university known for its military research, sanctioned by the U.S. in 2020.
• Chinese suppliers like Shenzhen Huasheng Industry Co. Ltd, which filled procurement gaps when other firms backed out under pressure.

By 2023, Aero-HIT was producing hundreds of drones per month, expanding rapidly and pitching for Kremlin support. The company’s name reportedly combines “aero” with HIT, reflecting its strategic ties to Harbin’s tech ecosystem.

In May 2024, Aero-HIT’s team met Putin’s special envoy to the Far East, Yury Trutnev, who promised customs assistance and regulatory waivers. Just days later, the company was officially registered, and a stream of Chinese parts began flowing into Russia under tax-free trade agreements.

Export Loopholes and Beijing’s Denials

While Autel Robotics and other Chinese firms publicly deny ties to Russia, the documents reveal continued transactions through third-party intermediaries and alleged cooperation with Autel personnel. These denials mirror Beijing’s official stance, claiming it does not supply either side in the war and maintains tight control over dual-use exports.

However, enforcement remains weak. Even after the U.S. and U.K. sanctioned Aero-HIT and Shenzhen Huasheng, the drone parts continued to arrive. China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

As one document notes, Chinese companies became more cautious after Beijing imposed new drone export restrictions in September 2023. Still, others “stepped in to take their place,” continuing shipments through informal or backchannel routes.

Ukraine’s View: Strategic Imbalance

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in May 2025 that China had cut drone sales to Ukraine while continuing to supply Russia, creating a dangerous technological imbalance. With Russia launching up to 500 drones in a single night, the need for Ukrainian drone parity has become urgent.

Ukraine believes Russia is aiming to produce 500 long-range drones per day—a number possible only with sustained imports of Chinese components.

Implications for Global Security

The revelations carry serious implications for international security and sanctions enforcement:

• China’s dual-use tech exports are slipping through global controls, enabling military escalation.
• Russia’s workaround using civilian drones highlights how modern conflicts blur legal and technological boundaries.
• Sanctioned intermediaries, like Renovatsio-Invest and Aeromar-DV, show the sophistication of Russia’s covert procurement networks.

Despite public statements of neutrality, Chinese corporate complicity—direct or indirect—is bolstering Russian firepower.

As drone warfare shapes the next phase of the Ukraine war, this supply chain—from Shenzhen to Khabarovsk—represents one of the most consequential front lines in the conflict.