This year, the Russian army has increasingly used fiber-optic drones that are resistant to electronic warfare at the front. As a result, the Russians have effectively cut off the normal supply routes for Ukrainian troops on the front line and are targeting civilians in front-line cities. Without China’s support, these drones’ effectiveness would be much lower.
In May and June, a record length of fiber-optic cable was exported to Russia, and in August this number increased nearly tenfold, reaching 524,800 kilometers. China’s August shipments alone, if used exclusively for drones, would be sufficient to supply 26,240 devices. China also exports fiber-optic cables to Ukraine, but the volume is much smaller with only 115 kilometers in August. Although China officially ceased supplying finished drones to Russia, the continued export of components necessary for their construction indicates ongoing support for the Russian military-industrial complex.
“If you look at how the front line is changing, Russia is capturing territory in pieces equal to the distance that drones on fiber optics can fly”, reported the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
Meanwhile, the flow of non-military Chinese goods that help sustain the Russian economy amidst global sanctions is rapidly decreasing, despite the Kremlin’s push to increase mutual trade. China’s exports to Russia fell by 21% in September.