Ukraine Says China Ignored Evidence Linking Its Components to Russian Weapons

China has shown no visible response for six months after Ukraine handed over detailed evidence that Chinese components were being used in Russian weapons, even as the share of such parts continues to grow, Ukraine’s presidential sanctions commissioner Vladyslav Vlasiuk said.

“Six months ago, they received files with exhaustive serial numbers, and in six months there has been realistically no response,” Vlasiuk told journalists on Friday.

Ukraine has been systematically collecting and cataloging foreign-made components found in Russian missiles and drones, including serial numbers that can help governments and law enforcement agencies trace how the parts reached Russia.

Vlasiuk said the work allows Kyiv to present partners not just with broad accusations, but with specific examples that can be investigated.

“We are not just saying ‘Look, there are 35,000 components again,’” he said. “We say: ‘Here are 100 or 200 serial numbers, investigate them.’”

According to Vlasiuk, Chinese-made components are being found alongside parts from Germany, Japan, Switzerland, Taiwan, and the US in Russia’s most frequently used weapons, including Kh-101 cruise missiles, Iskander ballistic missiles, and Shahed-type attack drones.

“Everywhere we will see fresh components,” Vlasiuk said, adding that Ukraine expects to identify newly produced parts – potentially manufactured in 2026 – in Russian weapons in the coming weeks.

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Vlasiuk said China, Japan, and the US remain among the main countries of origin for foreign components found in Russian weapons. He added that Ukraine can identify specific manufacturers and specific parts, giving Kyiv stronger grounds to demand action from governments and companies.

Some governments and companies have changed their policies after Ukraine shared such data, Vlasiuk said, citing Dutch chipmaker NXP as an example of a company whose components Ukraine now rarely finds in Shahed drones after sustained work with the company and the Dutch government.

However, he said other governments and companies have done little or nothing, despite repeated Ukrainian efforts to draw public and media attention to the issue.

In April, Russian officials were heard admitting in a leaked call that China supplies “90 percent” of drone components.

“If we’re talking just about electrical components, then 90% is always foreign raw materials. They simply aren’t produced in Russia,” one said during the meeting.

“Even the plastic is Chinese now, right? Because there’s no Russian plastic,” another responded.

While there’s no evidence that Beijing has supplied arms to Russia, it has previously protested against EU sanctions targeting private Chinese firms supplying Russia with military or dual-use goods.