The media refers to a report by the Ukrainian Center for Defense Reforms, prepared for the US State Department and the governments of European countries.
It says that in 2024 alone, the Chinese company Shenzhen Kiosk Electronic sold at least 3.3 million electric motors to the Russian Federation.
These motors can be used in the production of not only UAVs, but also washing machines, electric scooters and pumps.
However, employees of the Center for Defense Reforms found out that the final recipient of the engines was the Moscow company Rustakt. Ukrainian intelligence identified it as a drone manufacturer, and the EU imposed sanctions on it at the end of 2024 for supporting the Russian army.
The report states that from July 2023 to February 2025, Rustak purchased almost $300 million in dual-use goods, of which $83 million was spent on the supply of electric motors. Trade continued after the introduction of EU sanctions.
The scale and structure of Rustakt's supplies indicate that the company is not only a manufacturer, but also a logistics center for other Russian drone manufacturers.
The Russian Federation is also increasing the production of long-range drones for large-scale attacks on Ukrainian cities, the WSJ emphasized.
China has become a “major external supplier,” providing “critical components such as engines and navigation systems” for drones like the Shahed, the report claims.
