Chinese drones have not yet been used in Ukraine.
Companies China and the Russian aggressors are developing an attack drone similar to the Iranian Shahed model, which the invaders use to attack Ukraine.
This was reported by Bloomberg with reference to unnamed European officials.
The publication writes that the companies held talks in 2023 about cooperation to copy the Iranian Shahed drone and began developing and testing a version this year in preparation for sending to the Russian Federation.
“Providing Russia with a Shahed-type attack drone will mean Beijing’s deepening of support for Russia, despite repeated warnings from the United States and its allies,” the authors of the material write.
According to officials, these Chinese drones have not yet been used in Ukraine. One of Bloomberg's interlocutors said that China is still considering whether to send fully built UAVs, but is already sending kits that can be converted into attack drones. However, officials fear that Beijing could produce a drone like the Shahed much faster than Tehran or Moscow.
It is noted that the sources did not name the type of drone being developed, but Chinese defense websites and several media outlets have reported that the country is developing a kamikaze attack drone called the Sunflower 200. This UAV is similar in appearance to the Iranian Shahed 136 drone.
Recall that Finnish President Alexander Stubb said that Chinese leader Xi Jinping could end the war in Ukraine “with one phone call”. He also called on Europe to strengthen its support for Ukraine, as well as to build up its own defense capabilities in the traditional army, as well as against Russian hybrid warfare.
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