Ukraine’s foreign intelligence service has accused China of supplying critical materials to at least 20 Russian military production facilities, raising serious concerns about Beijing’s role in the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine.
Speaking to Ukraine’s state-run news agency Ukrinform, Oleh Ivashchenko, the head of Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service, stated that China is sending various essential goods used in weapons manufacturing to Russia. These include industrial tools, specialized chemicals, gunpowder, and other components tailored specifically for defense-related production.
“We have confirmed evidence involving 20 Russian factories receiving these materials,” Ivashchenko claimed.
Reuters has reached out to China’s foreign ministry for an official response but has yet to receive a comment.
This revelation adds to growing fears that China may be undermining international efforts to isolate Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, which began in February 2022. Since then, many Western nations have imposed heavy sanctions on Moscow, hoping to cripple its ability to fund and sustain its war efforts.
China, however, has deepened economic ties with Russia over the past three years, becoming a critical trading partner as Moscow faces isolation from the West. This latest allegation, if substantiated, could further strain Beijing’s already complicated relations with the international community.
This is not the first time China has been accused of supporting Russia’s military. In April, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made headlines when he publicly accused China of supplying weapons and gunpowder to Russia. It was the first time Kyiv had directly linked Beijing to military support for Moscow. China quickly dismissed the accusation as “groundless,” but Ukraine responded by imposing sanctions on three Chinese companies allegedly involved.
Ivashchenko went further in his statement, saying Ukrainian intelligence had documented at least five incidents of active cooperation between Russian and Chinese firms in the aviation industry between 2024 and 2025. These included the shipment of aviation equipment, spare parts, and technical documentation.
He also mentioned six additional cases involving large-scale shipments of specialty chemicals, though he did not offer more details about the nature or destination of these chemicals.
As the war continues to escalate and geopolitical tensions deepen, these revelations—if confirmed—could force a global reckoning on China’s role in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Western nations have repeatedly warned China against directly or indirectly aiding Russia’s military, but thus far, Beijing has largely avoided direct consequences.
If Ukraine’s claims are verified, international pressure on China is expected to intensify, potentially leading to diplomatic fallout, trade restrictions, or expanded sanctions.
