Chinese Drone Seller Appears to Be Major Supplier to Russia, Kharon Says

Russian companies have bought millions of dollars worth of drone parts from China-based drone accessories supplier Tarot-RC, risk advisory firm Kharon said Aug. 6. Kharon said the parts were made by Chinese company Wenzhou Feiyue Aviation Technology Co. and have been shipped into Russia in “significant quantities” since the start of 2023 despite claims by Tarot-RC “that it does not engage in such activity.” Trade records and other public data “contradict that assertion, pointing to a consistent influx of Tarot-RC components into Russia, both through direct shipments from Wenzhou Feiyue Aviation Technology Co. and through intermediaries that move products from China and Hong Kong into Russia,” Kharon said.

Kharon listed several Russian companies that it said are buying parts from Tarot-RC, including Entep OOO, which was sanctioned by the U.S. last year for procuring electronic components that were later sent to the Russian military. Although it’s unclear whether any of the drones being purchased from Tarot-RC contain U.S.-origin parts, Kharon said the shipments could be “undermining international efforts to stem the flow of foreign technology and dual-use goods” to Russia.

The U.S. has sanctioned a range of Chinese companies for sending dual-use parts to Russia (see 2407010031, 2406120036 and 2407110001), but lawmakers are calling on the Biden administration to do more (see 2407300033).