In the current situation, Russia and Ukraine have effectively found themselves in a rivalry for identical Chinese components for unmanned aerial vehicles, which have become a crucial element of their military operations. This is reported by the Financial Times.
The founder of the Ukrainian company TAF Industries, Alexander Yakovenko, shared with the publication that Chinese manufacturers are trying to stagger the visits of Ukrainian and Russian clients to avoid their simultaneous presence at factories. Each visit is organized with a high degree of precision: Ukrainian delegations enter through service entrances immediately after Russian customers leave the premises.
According to Yakovenko, Chinese companies aim to maintain partnerships with both sides of the conflict, taking into account the interests of both Kyiv and Moscow. This results in drone manufacturers in both countries relying on the same suppliers of key elements, such as cameras, batteries, and other important components from China.
The publication notes that drones have become the most rapidly developing and critically important weapon in the course of the conflict, accounting for up to 75% of recent losses. At the same time, experts suggest that Beijing may practically favor Russian buyers.
