China Providing Military Supplies to 20 Russian Defense Plants, Intelligence Chief Says

Ukrainian intelligence has confirmed that China is supplying key materials and equipment to at least 20 Russian military production facilities, directly enabling Moscow’s ongoing war against Ukraine. The revelation, made by the chief of Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service, Oleh Ivashchenko, underscores growing concerns about Beijing’s role in circumventing Western sanctions and sustaining Russia’s war machine.

“There is information that China supplies tooling machines, special chemical products, gunpowder, and components specifically to defense manufacturing industries,” Ivashchenko told on Monday. “We have confirmed data on 20 Russian factories.”

While Kyiv has previously accused China of supporting Russia indirectly through trade, this marks one of the most detailed and explicit assessments of Chinese involvement in Russia’s arms industry. The intelligence chief’s remarks add further weight to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s earlier accusation in April that China was supplying artillery shells and gunpowder to Russia. China’s Foreign Ministry dismissed those claims as “groundless,” but Ukraine responded by imposing sanctions on three Chinese companies linked to arms-related shipments.

According to Ivashchenko, Ukrainian intelligence has also documented at least five instances of Russian-Chinese cooperation in the aviation sector between 2024 and 2025. These include the transfer of aviation equipment, spare parts, and sensitive documentation essential for maintaining or upgrading Russian aircraft fleets. Ivashchenko noted six additional cases involving “large shipments” of specialty chemicals used in defense manufacturing, though specific details were withheld.

China, which has emerged as Russia’s key economic partner since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, has significantly expanded trade ties with Moscow, even as Western nations imposed sweeping sanctions.

Officially, Beijing maintains a stance of neutrality, calling for peace negotiations while continuing to deepen its strategic relationship with the Kremlin. The new disclosures are likely to intensify Western scrutiny of China’s role in sustaining Russia’s war capacity, especially as Europe and the United States deliberate additional sanctions and trade restrictions.

Analysts warn that unchecked technological and industrial support from China could prolong the conflict and erode the impact of Western sanctions.

Kyiv has called for greater coordination among its allies to monitor and disrupt global supply chains that benefit Russian arms production. With direct evidence of Chinese materials fueling the Russian war effort, pressure is expected to grow on international stakeholders to hold Beijing accountable and close loopholes that allow dual-use goods to reach Russian factories.