China helps Russia create an analogue of the Shahed

This was reported by two European security officials and confirmed by documents seen by Reuters.

According to their information, Chinese specialists have visited Kupol more than six times since the second quarter of last year. During this time, the company also received shipments of Chinese strike and reconnaissance drones through a Russian intermediary.

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Kupol developed the new Garpiya-3 drone in China with the help of local engineers.

This cooperation indicates a deepening relationship between Kupol and Chinese companies in the development of drones, which play a critical role in Russia's war against Ukraine.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry said it had no information about this cooperation.

Documents, including commercial invoices and bank statements, show that last year Kupol received more than a dozen single-use strike drones manufactured by the Chinese company Sichuan AEE. The deliveries were made by Russian defense company TSK Vektor, which is also under US and EU sanctions. Neither company provided comment.

The US and Europe have repeatedly expressed concern about Chinese components being supplied to Russian arms manufacturers and have imposed sanctions on some of them.

Kupol manufactures thousands of Garpiya strike drones, copied from the Iranian Shahed, using Chinese parts, including engines. These drones can travel hundreds of kilometers to a predetermined target and explode on impact. According to Kyiv, about 500 such drones are used monthly in Ukraine.

The supply of Chinese drones and the presence of experts may indicate Kupol's desire to expand production of new models.

Photo: Kyivcity.gov.ua.

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