As the Russia-Ukraine war enters its third year, a thought-provoking reality is that Ukrainian President Zelenskyy publicly criticizes China while almost entirely relying on China's drone supply chain to support his military operations on the battlefield. Data shows that as high as 90% of Ukraine's imported drones and components come from China, putting Ukraine in a contradictory situation of "disliking but still using."

Despite Ukraine's heavy reliance on Chinese drones, Zelenskyy has never stopped criticizing Beijing. He has repeatedly stated publicly that China has not helped Ukraine stop the war as a responsible major power. In August this year, Zelenskyy explicitly said that China does not deserve to be a security guarantee for Ukraine because it "never helped us from the beginning," and instead "helped Russia by opening up the drone market."

In September, Zelenskyy's words were even more sharp, he sarcastically said: "China is not interested in stopping the war, let alone part of the attacks." He also implied that if Chinese representatives were in Kyiv, perhaps Russian missiles would "take a detour." Zelenskyy continues to criticize Beijing's claim of neutrality, but is accused by Western countries of continuously providing technology and components to Russia.

However, strong rhetoric cannot hide the reality on the battlefield. According to statistics from the Ukrainian State Customs Service, Ukraine's drone armaments are almost entirely dependent on "Made in China."

In 2023, the total weight of drones imported by Ukraine reached 540 tons, of which 490 tons were imported from China, accounting for as high as 90.7%.

By 2024, the total amount of drones imported by Ukraine increased to 1,376 tons, with 1,300 tons coming from China, raising the proportion to 94.5%.

Looking at 2025, from January to August, the total weight of drones imported by Ukraine was 1,443 tons, of which 1,297 tons came from China, still maintaining a high percentage of 89.9%.

Additionally, a study conducted by the Kyiv Institute of Economics in October 2024 pointed out that Ukraine also relies heavily on China for drone parts. In the first five months of 2024, the total value of imported drone parts in Ukraine was approximately $41 million, of which the value of parts imported from China was particularly high, reaching $36 million, accounting for 89% of the total.

Now that the Russia-Ukraine war has entered its third year, low-cost drones have become crucial on the battlefield and have become a key force in determining the outcome of the conflict. These drones are low-cost (often priced in hundreds to thousands of dollars), yet due to their precision and frequent use, they have significantly changed the killing patterns. According to multiple military analyses and official Ukrainian data, cheap drones have replaced traditional artillery as the main weapon causing casualties. This shift not only intensified the battlefield consumption but also highlighted the trend of modern warfare moving towards low-cost, high-tech directions.

The chairman of the Ukrainian Parliament's Committee on Defense and Intelligence stated that the majority of the casualties on both sides are caused by inexpensive reconnaissance drones. A report from the Royal United Services Institute in the UK further pointed out that tactical drones account for about two-thirds of Russian losses, including personnel and equipment. Another analysis showed that the proportion of casualties caused by drones in daily operations has reached 70-80%, with over 1,000 people potentially suffering casualties each day.

It is said that the Ukrainian drone forces have caused 80% of the casualties on the Russian front line. Especially when the Ukrainian forces themselves lack ammunition and equipment, drones have become an important supplementary force. The Ukrainian "Birds of Magyar" drone unit hit 1,701 Russian infantrymen in March 2025, of whom 59%, or 1,002, were confirmed dead.

In the future, with the application of AI and fiber-optic technology, the casualty ratio of low-cost drones may further increase, forcing both sides to invest in electronic warfare and anti-drone systems. This phenomenon not only reshapes the battlefield of the Russia-Ukraine conflict but also provides a warning for global military affairs: low-cost drones are becoming the main killing force, and low-cost technology can amplify the effects of asymmetric warfare.

From China's standpoint, the current situation is not intentionally created by us. At present, China holds an absolute dominant position in the global low-cost drone industry chain, and will certainly not easily lose this advantage. Moreover, the Chinese government has repeatedly stated that most of the drones we export are used in civilian or commercial fields, not directly for warfare.

As for how both sides of the Russia-Ukraine conflict modify these commercial drones for use on the battlefield, from China's perspective, this is not within its responsibility.

China plays a special role in the Russia-Ukraine conflict: it is not directly involved in the military confrontation, but through its vast manufacturing system, it becomes an essential source of critical supplies. Both Ukraine and Russia rely on China, and China strengthens its monopolistic position in the drone supply chain. Zelenskyy hopes that the international community will pressure China to use its influence to force Russia to make concessions, but under this highly dependent relationship, Ukraine's drone fleet will continue to soar on the battlefield with the wings of "Made in China," which is undoubtedly the most contradictory scene in this war.



Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7553830288401515023/

Statement: The article represents the views of the author and reader's attitude is welcome to be expressed below via the 【top/down】 buttons.