China Floods Russia With 328,000 Miles of Drone Cable While Sending Ukraine Just 72—Fueling Moscow’s Battlefield Edge

China dramatically increased exports of fiber-optic cables and lithium-ion batteries to Russia over the summer, sending 328,000 miles of cable in August while Ukraine received just 72 miles—a 456-to-1 disparity that’s helping Moscow overwhelm Ukrainian defenses with jamming-resistant drones, reports The Washington Post.

The explosive growth in Chinese component exports to Russia—fiber-optic cable shipments jumped nearly tenfold from 119,000 miles in May to 328,000 miles by August—has enabled Russian forces to deploy thousands of fiber-optic drones that can’t be stopped by Ukraine’s electronic warfare systems. These wired drones are reshaping the battlefield, striking targets up to 12 miles (19 kilometers) away while Ukrainian defenders watch helplessly as their jamming equipment proves useless.

The Lopsided Numbers Tell the Story

Chinese customs data reveals the stunning scale of Beijing’s selective support. According to The Washington Post’s analysis, fiber-optic cable exports to Russia hit record highs in May (119,000 miles) and June (130,000 miles) before spiking to 328,000 miles in August. Ukraine received only 72 miles of cable that same month—barely enough to produce a few dozen drones.

Lithium-ion battery exports followed the same pattern. Russia received $54 million worth in June and $47 million in August, while Ukraine got just $11-12 million per month.

Kateryna Bondar, a fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told the Post: “It’s critical; it’s crucial. Chinese play a big role here because this is where they are happy and ready to adjust their production lines.”

How Fiber-Optic Drones Changed the War

Unlike standard FPV drones controlled by radio signals, fiber-optic drones trail ultra-thin glass cables—the same technology used for high-speed internet—back to their operators. This physical connection makes them completely immune to electronic warfare jamming that can disable radio-controlled drones.

“They’re difficult to defend against,” said Samuel Bendett, an adjunct senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security. “And they can do a significant amount of damage.”

Russia leveraged this advantage during its Kursk counteroffensive earlier this year. The drones can fly low between trees, strike hardened targets, and maintain crystal-clear video feeds until impact. Local Ukrainian authorities near Kramatorsk reported their first fiber-optic drone attack on October 5, 2025.

The Chinese Connection Running Through Russian Factories

Despite Beijing’s claims of neutrality and its 2022 decision to halt direct drone sales to both Russia and Ukraine, Chinese manufacturers have kept Russia’s drone industry humming. One Russian manufacturer, Rustakt LLC, imported $577 million in parts from China between July 2023 and December 2024, according to Washington-based intelligence firm Sayari.

Smaller Chinese suppliers filled the void after DJI stopped direct deliveries. Russian company Stribog now advertises $2,200 machines for winding fiber-optic cable, featuring Chinese staff and equipment on its website. A September 24 blog post showcased a 0.28mm fiber-optic cable spool with a 12-mile (19-kilometer) range, designed by Chinese engineers.

Another Russian drone maker, ASFPV LLC (also known as PGI Technologies), displays Chinese-made drones and cabling materials on its website alongside letters from the Russian military expressing interest in purchasing scanners for detecting enemy drones.

Western Sanctions Can’t Stop the Component Flow

The U.S. and European Union have imposed multiple rounds of sanctions on Russian and Chinese companies, but the restrictions have barely slowed the flow of components that serve both civilian and military purposes. China restricts exports of finished military drones while opening the floodgates for components that Russian manufacturers assemble into battlefield weapons.

European leaders are growing increasingly frustrated with Beijing’s selective enforcement of its own export controls. As Mick Ryan, a senior fellow at the Lowy Institute, explained:

“China has been restricting access to parts and technology for Ukraine and its supporters while ‘opening up the floodgates for components for Russian drones.’”

NATO leaders called China a “decisive enabler” of Russia’s war in July 2025, and the European Union has repeatedly urged China “not to provide any material support which sustains Russia’s military-industrial base.” Beijing continues to supply critical components while maintaining it doesn’t provide weapons to either side.

DroneXL’s Take

We’ve been tracking fiber-optic drone development since Russia first deployed wire-guided drones in March 2024. Back then, this technology seemed like a clever workaround for electronic warfare. Now it’s clear that China’s component pipeline has transformed it into a strategic weapon.

The 328,000-to-72 mile cable disparity isn’t an accident or a market force—it’s a policy choice by Beijing. While Chinese officials claim neutrality and point to export restrictions on military drones, they’ve weaponized their supply chain dominance to tip the scales toward Moscow. DJI may have stopped direct sales in 2022, but smaller Chinese manufacturers are filling the gap with zero interference from Beijing.

This exposes the fundamental flaw in treating drone components as “dual-use” technology subject to voluntary export controls. Ultra-thin fiber-optic cables and lithium-ion batteries have obvious civilian applications, making them nearly impossible to regulate through traditional sanctions. China knows this and is exploiting it masterfully.

For Ukraine, this reinforces the urgent need to break free from Chinese component dependence. We’ve covered Ukraine’s push for 100% domestically-sourced FPV drones and international partnerships like the recent €200 million Dutch production deal. But building a complete supply chain takes years—time Ukraine doesn’t have while Russia churns out thousands of jamming-proof drones monthly.

The broader lesson? Control of drone component manufacturing is now a strategic asset as important as artillery shells or aircraft carriers. China’s 80% market share in commercial drone components gives Beijing veto power over who gets to build effective military drones. That should terrify every NATO defense planner.

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