Prefer to trade with Russia: China prevents Ukraine from winning the War of Drones - NYT

Ukrainian manufacturers have already felt export restrictions, because buying Chinese UAVs and details for them has become more difficult, and completely replace them with nothing. China greatly limited the supply of drones and components necessary for the effective fighting against Russia. About it writes the newspaper New York Times, whose journalists spoke with a dozen Ukrainian manufacturers, pilots and instructors.

Chinese companies, such as DJI, Ehang and Autel, are massively producing drones, increasing the scale in the last few years. Now from their conveyors, millions of civilian UAVs come annually, much more than in other countries. According to Droneanalyst research group, DJI alone holds more than 90% of the global commercial copter market. While Iran and Turkey arrest Russia and Ukraine, respectively by large military -level drones, cheap civilian drones of troops receive mainly from China.

Only from September 1, the Chinese authorities have introduced export restrictions, which greatly reduced sales. According to NYT, some Chinese companies continue to trade with Ukraine, but are forced to use a complex network of intermediaries, just as Russia bypasses US and Europe sanctions. Many Ukrainians have had to ask abroad, borrow or smuggling the goods needed to replenish UAV losses.

Ukraine competes from the Russian Federation for buying drones of FPV (First Perspn View) from China companies that are ready to sell them directly. Russians are often preferred because they are ready to pay more and order larger parties. In addition, the Chinese are politically profitable to trade with Russia. According to analysts at the Royal Institute of Joint Services (United Kingdom), Ukraine is losing an average of 10,000 drones a month.

Many fear that China's new rules can even more complicate the lives of Ukrainian producers before the coming winter. China's restrictions give Russia an advantage in the arms race. According to customs data, from January to June 2023, Chinese companies directly put drones in Ukraine worth more intermediaries. "Even if you see a component of marking" America "or" Australia ", it is still fully produced in China.

To create something that could be effectively replaced by China is almost impossible," - said Alexei Kolesnik, founder of the enterprise Reactive Drone that produces drones in the Dnieper. The businessman shared that his company still receives details thanks to personal ties with Chinese factories, because before the war he produced agricultural drones.

Only once there was a problem: the video from his UAV was noticed by officials from China, after which the partner firm publicly stopped cooperation. Currently, Alexei Kolesnik suggests that new export rules can complicate the purchase of night vision cameras by Ukrainians needed to compile new drones capable of attacking Russians in the dark. Maria Berlinskaya, the head of the Victory Drones, has shared that Ukrainian volunteers have to build more and more complex supply chains.

Because of this, the war turned into a "technological marathon", and only the victory in it will help to win. "We have to persuade Chinese plants to help us with the components because they are not happy to help us," Maria said. However, some manufacturers have found a replacement for some Chinese spare parts abroad, for example, in the US, Europe, Taiwan, although they are much more expensive.

Kyiv UkrspecSystems, which produces reconnaissance drones, told reporters that they are practically no use in China, but feel the country intentionally delayed any supply to Ukraine. Earlier, Focus published an interview with the founder of Ukrainian company Airunit Andriy Steppe. He explained that at first China offers low prices compared to the event due to cheap labor. Export restrictions will increase prices for Chinese details, so Ukrainians should look at manufacturers from Europe.