Diplomats are becoming increasingly concerned that Russia is producing deadly drones in China in a move which could have serious implications for the war in Ukraine.
Insiders say the “evidence” it had uncovered was a concerning reflection of the “no-limits partnership” to which the two superpowers are committed to.
The focus is on a clandestine weapons programme believed to be located in China’s Xinjiang province.
Intelligence reports suggest the facility is being used to assemble attack drones for deployment in Ukraine, and which are designed for offensive operations as opposed to reconnaissance, thus posing a threat to both Ukrainian infrastructure and civilian targets.
Vladimir Putin launched a series of missile and drone strikes across Ukraine at the weekend, apparently targeting country’s energy infrastructure, with at least eight people killed as well.
A subsidiary of Almaz-Antey, a Russian state-owned arms company under EU and US sanctions, is understood to have “developed and flight-tested” a new model of a long-range drone “with the help of local specialists.”
The European External Action Service (EEAS), the bloc’s diplomatic arm, also received evidence from intelligence sources showing Russia had set up one factory on Chinese soil to assemble drones that could potentially be deployed to target Ukraine.
Speaking on condition of anonymity to Euronews on Friday, numerous EU diplomats said the evidence was “conclusive”, “credible” and “convincing”.
One said: “We don’t have more than that. We don’t have clear evidence of what’s going on.
“It’s difficult to believe it’s happening without the knowledge or complete lack of knowledge of the (Chinese) authorities.”
Nevertheless, they admitted: “What we have now is not as solid that we can act accordingly,”
Without Russia’s help, another unnamed diplomat claimed, “Russia couldn’t wage this war”, adding: “There should be consequences.”
Beijing has rejected suggestions of any involvement in the invasion and insists it maintains an equidistant position, widely interpreted by the West as pro-Russian. Beijing has further said it was not aware of any Russian project in Xinjiang.
Russia has deployed lethal drones at a vast scale in its war of aggression to destroy Ukraine’s power infrastructure and civilian buildings, killing hundreds along the way.
The reports come at a critical time for the country, with Russian forces making significant gains on the ground and North Korean troops joining the fight in the Kursk region.
It also coincides with the election of Donald Trump as US President, who has vowed to revise military aid to Ukraine and strike a deal to end the war “in 24 hours.”
EU foreign affairs ministers are expected to discuss the issue of China-made drones when they meet today for a meeting in Brussels.
Separately, Amnesty International has claimed Russia is engaged in an ongoing campaign of war crimes against the people and children of Ukraine.
The humanitarian group says it has verified 17 strikes in 2024 alone that have caused child casualties while field research carried out by the charity revealed Russian forces have deliberately targeted civilians and civilian infrastructure.
Amnesty International Ukraine researcher Patrick Thompson called for the perpetrators of unlawful attacks and war crimes against the people of Ukraine to be brought to justice.
He said: “Children, as some of the most vulnerable groups in any society, enjoy special protection under international humanitarian law.
“Yet we continue to see them killed and injured in areas far from the front lines, including in areas with zero military targets.”
