China’s support for Russia in the Ukraine war did not begin in 2022. It is the product of a long-standing relationship that dates back to the collapse of the Soviet Union. In the 1990s and early 2000s, China purchased hundreds of fighter jets, helicopters, submarines, and air defense systems from Russia. In exchange, Russia gained a customer for its aging but vast military-industrial complex. This arms-for-cash relationship allowed both countries to benefit. As one analysis noted, “China needed Russian technology to build a modern army, and Russia needed the money to keep its defense factories open.”

But after Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014, Western nations imposed sanctions that cut off access to Ukraine’s defense industry and most Western suppliers. That pushed Moscow closer to Beijing, creating a dependency that only deepened after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

From that point forward, China became more than a business partner—it became Russia’s most important backdoor to continue the war. Chinese companies now supply the critical technology, materials, and dual-use equipment that help keep Russia’s war machine running.

China’s “Neutral” Role in Name Only

China officially claims it is neutral in the war. The Chinese Foreign Ministry has repeatedly stated that it “has never provided lethal weapons to parties involved in the Ukraine crisis.” On April 10, 2025, ministry spokesman Lin Jian said that China supports a peaceful resolution and does not take sides in the conflict.

But the facts on the ground tell a very different story. According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, China is now supplying Russia with everything from gunpowder to artillery parts. In April 2025, Zelenskyy stated, “We have evidence that China is helping produce explosives and artillery for Russia, and even manufacturing some weapons on Russian territory.”

These claims are backed up by independent data. Customs records show that Chinese exports of nitrocellulose, a key ingredient in gunpowder, have exploded since the war began. From almost zero before 2022, China exported 700 tons that year, and more than 1,300 tons in 2023. As noted by Ukraine’s military intelligence, this is “enough to produce more than 200,000 152mm shells.”

Western officials have also confirmed this trend. According to The Economist, Chinese companies are supplying Russia with components used in drones, fiber-optic cables, and materials for explosives. While Beijing avoids sending large shipments of finished weapons, it has enabled Moscow to keep building and launching them.

Chinese Components in Russian Weapons

One of the clearest signs of China’s role is found in the drones attacking Ukrainian cities. In the early months of the war, many of the Iranian-designed Shahed drones used by Russia were packed with American-made electronics. But now, newer versions are increasingly filled with Chinese parts.

Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence Directorate found that a recently downed Shahed drone had “13 Chinese components out of 15 total.” According to The Economist, “only two were American.” Ukrainian officials believe these changes are not accidental. They say China is not just tolerating the exports—it is actively supporting them.

President Zelenskyy also said that Chinese technicians had been spotted working inside Russian arms factories. “Chinese representatives are present at production facilities in Russia,” he told journalists in May 2025. A European defense official confirmed that China is using the war as a testing ground for its products. “They want to see how their materials perform under battlefield conditions,” the official said.

From Civilian Tech to Combat Tools

China continues to deny that it sends weapons to Russia. But it sends tools and equipment that are critical to building those weapons. The most common exports include:

• Drones, especially DJI Mavic models used for surveillance and targeting
• All-terrain vehicles like the DesertCross 1000-3, used by Russian troops for logistics and even direct assaults
• Machine tools, including lathes and milling machines needed for producing artillery shells and missile parts
• Chemicals used in explosives and fuel production

Even though many of these items are labeled “civilian,” they are being used in combat. In fact, some of the Chinese drones exported to Russia are more advanced than those sold to Ukraine. In September 2023, China introduced export restrictions on drones for “conflict zones,” but loopholes remain. As Zelenskyy put it, “China cut off the supply of quadcopters to Ukraine while leaving the tap open for Russia.”

Has China Crossed the Line Into Supplying Weapons?

Until recently, most Chinese exports to Russia could be described as dual-use—civilian goods with military applications. But some evidence suggests that China may now be providing actual weaponry.

In early 2023, Ukrainian forces found Chinese-made mortar shells near Melitopol. U.S. and European officials also say China has supplied “a small number” of artillery shells and military UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) to Russia. According to a 2024 report from The Economist, Chinese firms helped Russia develop a new drone, the Harpy-3, which is essentially a lethal copy of the Iranian Shahed. One U.K. defense official, Grant Shapps, stated that this drone was “a lethal system, not a dual-use aircraft.”

This slow drift from indirect to direct support may be intentional. China seems to be testing how far it can go without triggering new Western sanctions. So far, that line has not been clearly defined—allowing China to inch closer without crossing it outright.

The Economic Engine Behind the War

Besides drones and ammunition components, China also supplies Russia with the machines that make war possible. Between 2023 and 2024, China became Russia’s top source of industrial equipment. The Economic Security Council of Ukraine reported that Chinese companies now provide 80 to 90 percent of all imported machine tools in Russia.

Many of these machines were originally designed in the West. China either copied the designs or acquired them through shell companies and resells them to Russian firms. This gives Russia a way to maintain its weapons production despite Western sanctions.

China has also become the main supplier of strategic minerals for Russia’s military, including germanium, gallium, and antimony. These materials are used in everything from guidance systems to semiconductors to radar. A report from Radio Free Europe found that many of the companies involved are partially owned by the Chinese government.

What Does China Get in Return?

China does not support Russia’s war out of charity. It gets several benefits in return:

• Access to cheap energy and raw materials, as Western buyers have pulled out of Russian markets
• A dependent and isolated Russia, which gives China more leverage in Eurasia
• Battlefield data, allowing it to improve its weapons and tactics without entering combat directly
• Captured Western technology, as Russia shares equipment it finds in Ukraine

A Western intelligence report noted that “Russia and China continue to explore ways to exchange Western technologies captured on the battlefield.” This includes American precision-guided weapons, European electronics, and satellite systems.

Risks to Ukraine and the World

For Ukraine, China’s support is a major threat. It allows Russia to keep producing missiles, artillery, and drones despite heavy losses. According to President Zelenskyy, “China is increasingly involved in Russia’s war against Ukraine.” He warned that if China continues to provide this level of support, “Russia could soon double the number of drone strikes.”

For the rest of the world, this partnership represents a growing challenge. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte recently said that “Putin’s war machine is accelerating,” and warned that the alliance must invest more heavily in air and missile defenses. If China continues to back Russia, it could allow the Kremlin to prolong the war and resist further international pressure.

In addition to Ukraine, Central and Eastern European nations are now watching Belarus, where Chinese technology is helping expand Russian military production. Belarusian factories, with Chinese support, are now producing artillery and missile components. This is causing concern in nearby countries like Poland and Lithuania, who fear accidents, sabotage, or the spillover of conflict.

A Deep but Limited Partnership

Despite this growing cooperation, the Russia-China relationship has limits. China has not recognized Russia’s annexation of Ukrainian territories. It has not sent troops. It has not joined Russia in condemning the West outright.

Beijing avoids making any formal military commitments. According to the CEPA report, “China is unwilling to make any commitment to Russia that would lead to an open conflict with the West or the introduction of sanctions.” Instead, China maintains its “neutrality” while quietly helping Russia from the shadows.

This careful balancing act may continue for years. As long as China sees value in supporting Russia—and believes it can avoid serious consequences—it is likely to keep doing so.

In public, China says it wants peace. Behind the scenes, it is helping Russia wage one of the most destructive wars in recent history. From ammunition ingredients to drone parts, Chinese materials are now embedded in the weapons that strike Ukrainian cities.

This is not just a regional issue. China’s actions are weakening the global sanctions regime and challenging the balance of power in Europe and beyond. As Ukrainian officials have warned, “This is a dangerous trend.” If left unchecked, it could set a precedent for how authoritarian powers support each other in future conflicts—under the cover of neutrality and behind a wall of plausible deniability.

ACZ Editor: America has known all along that China was supporting Russia, but China is barely trying to cover their tracks now. The question is what can the West do about it? Some have said that we should cut off all ties with China before its too late. But our complex relationship and economic integration defy a simplate solution.