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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said China has stopped selling drones to Kyiv and other European nations while continuing shipments to Russia.
“Chinese Mavic is open for Russians but is closed for Ukrainians,” Zelenskiy told a group of reporters on Tuesday. “There are production lines on Russian territory where there are Chinese representatives,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy added.
The Mavic is a popular civilian quadcopter, normally used for aerial photography, which can be adapted to carry explosives. On the battlefield, Mavics can be used both for surveillance and to attack enemy targets.
Drones have become central to the war in Ukraine, dramatically reshaping the tactics both sides employ on the frontline because of their ability to limit offensive maneuvers. They’ve also been increasingly used for long-range strikes far behind the frontlines.
A European official said that Zelenskiy’s remarks match their own assessments. The official said that China also appears to have curtailed deliveries to western buyers of some drone components, such as magnets used in motors, at the same time as ramping up deliveries to Russia.
“When someone is asking whether China is helping Russia, how shall we assess these steps?” Zelenskiy said.
Manufacturers in China began limiting sales to the US and Europe of key components Bloomberg reported late last year, in a move that western officials believed was a prelude to broader export restrictions.
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Bloomberg reported last summer that Chinese and Russian companies were working together on developing attack drones. The US and European Union have since sanctioned several Chinese firms for aiding Moscow’s drone manufacturing operations and providing critical components, including as part of a recent package of measures adopted by Brussels earlier this month.
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In March, Ukraine launched a so-called the Drone Line project that envisions the creation of a “kill zone” up to 15 kilometers (9 miles) along the front line to limit maneuvers by the Kremlin’s troops and provide air support for its own infantry.
Kyiv has asked allies to help finance its drone production as it seeks the ability to make between 300 to 500 units every 24 hours, Zelenskiy said.
“There is no issue in production capacity,” the Ukrainian president said. “The issue is in financing.”