China Exporting Drones to Russia Via Thailand – Bloomberg - The Moscow Times
Moscow Times
February 20, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
China is increasingly using Thailand as a transit hub to bypass Western sanctions on Russian drone imports, with a significant rise in drone exports from China to Russia via Thailand. According to Bloomberg's report, Thailand exported $125 million worth of drones to Russia between January and November 2025, accounting for nearly 88% of its total drone exports during that period. This represents an eightfold increase compared to the previous year and marks a stark contrast from 2023, when Thailand exported less than $1 million in drones, none destined for Russia.
The surge in drone trade is facilitated by major importers like China Thai Corp., which has imported over $144 million worth of drones from China to Thailand. Despite being sanctioned by Britain in October 2025, the company rebranded as Lanto Global Logistics and continues its operations. Another key player, Skyhub Technologies, imported $25 million worth of drones, including models like the EVO Max 4T from Autel Robotics, which are capable of military use. While Autel denies collaborating with the Russian military and claims to comply with international sanctions, critics argue that such drones can be repurposed for combat.
This growing trade underscores challenges in enforcing restrictions on dual-use technologies, as Russia finds alternative routes through third countries like Thailand. The development highlights the complexity of sanction enforcement and raises concerns about China's role in supplying technology to Russia. Western officials have criticized China
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Originally published on Moscow Times on 2/20/2026