Russia now imports over 90% of its sanctioned technology through Chinese channels, a stark increase that illustrates Moscow's growing dependence on Beijing as the war against Ukraine persists. This indicator has risen significantly from approximately 80% just last year, despite the European Union's intensified efforts to dismantle alternative sanction-evasion routes.
This development was reported by Dengi.ua, with reference to Bloomberg.
Critical Technologies Supporting Russian Weaponry
To maintain and expand the production of missiles and drones, Moscow secures several essential components via Chinese intermediaries:
- Semiconductors and integrated circuits.
- Electronics and specialized engineering equipment.
Beyond hardware, China is providing Russia with geospatial intelligence, including satellite imagery for military operations, and drone systems. Notably, while supplies to Russia have surged, Beijing has restricted exports of similar products to Ukraine and other nations.
Why the EU cannot stop Beijing
While the EU has sanctioned specific entities in China and Hong Kong for assisting Moscow, most member states are hesitant to escalate these measures. The primary deterrent is the threat of retaliatory sanctions from Beijing, which could inflict significant damage on the European economy.
Beijing maintains that it conducts "normal trade" with Russia and does not recognize international restrictions. In early April 2026, Chinese officials warned of "resolute countermeasures" should the EU include additional Chinese structures in its upcoming sanctions packages.