Since Russia invaded Ukraine nearly three years ago, the world has witnessed not only brutal conflict but also the complex web of international trade that continues to fuel Russia’s war efforts. One of the most alarming discoveries involves China, which has been supplying Russia with crucial materials used in weapons, drones, and missiles. These materials are essential for Russia’s military, including advanced technology like night-vision goggles, missile systems, and even nuclear weapons. While the U.S. and European Union have imposed heavy sanctions on Russia, China’s involvement in this supply chain remains largely unchallenged.
The Key Materials: Gallium, Germanium, and Antimony
China is the world’s largest producer of three rare minerals—gallium, germanium, and antimony. These elements are vital for creating semiconductors, microchips, and other high-tech components used in military technology. Gallium, for example, plays a crucial role in the development of missile systems, satellites, and advanced drones. Germanium and antimony are also used in laser guidance systems and infrared sensors, which are key in controlling missiles and drones during warfare.
Despite sanctions from the West aimed at cutting off Russia’s access to these minerals, China has continued to supply them. These elements are essential for the functioning of Russia’s military, from their nuclear arsenal to the unmanned drones used for reconnaissance. These metals are so important that they are used in nearly every piece of high-tech equipment Russia’s military relies on.
Chinese Companies’ Role in the Supply Chain
Dozens of Chinese companies have been found to be part of the supply chain, sending critical minerals directly to Russian defense industries. Some of these companies are state-owned, while others are privately owned but still have connections to the Chinese government. For example, companies like Yunnan Lincang Xinyuan Germanium Industry and VITAL Technology Group are known to supply gallium, germanium, and antimony to Russia. These Chinese companies either own or have significant partnerships with entities that have links to the Chinese government.
Bold Move: U.S. Targets Russia’s Military Supply Chains and Sanctions Evaders
Interestingly, some of the Chinese suppliers, such as VITAL Technology Group, are partially owned by the Chinese state. This means that, in a way, the Chinese government has a direct or indirect role in ensuring that these critical materials continue to flow into Russia’s military-industrial complex. Despite China’s public statements about not supporting Russia’s war, these transactions reveal a different reality.
One of the major recipients of these materials is Rostec, a Russian state-owned conglomerate that supplies a significant portion of the weapons used by the Russian military in Ukraine. Companies within Rostec’s network, such as Germanium JSC, continue to receive Chinese minerals that are then used to manufacture military equipment like missiles, drones, and even components for nuclear weapons.
How The Supply Chain Works: From China to Russia
The trade of these critical minerals often involves multiple stages before reaching Russia. For example, companies like Cryotrade Engineering and Enkor Grupp, which are sanctioned by both the U.S. and EU, import Chinese metals for use in their Russian defense contracts. These companies then sell their products to Russian military manufacturers, many of which are also under Western sanctions.
Some of the Chinese minerals even end up in the hands of Russian firms that produce microchips and other electronic components for weapons. For instance, Moscow-based Ferrotec Nord, a subsidiary of a Japanese company, has been found to import antimony from China. This antimony is then used in the production of microchips for weapons systems, including those used by Russia’s military. These components are crucial for guiding missiles, drones, and other weaponry in real-time combat situations.
Russia’s Secret Tech Supply Chain to U.S. Evade Sanctions
Another important link in this chain is the company Angstrem, a Russian firm that manufactures microchips for the Russian military. Angstrem receives components from companies that are directly connected to Chinese suppliers of rare minerals, allowing Russia to continue building the technology necessary for its war efforts.
China’s Strategic Move Amid Sanctions
While the West has imposed heavy sanctions on Russia to limit its ability to wage war, China’s actions are often seen as a way to sidestep these efforts. Since China is not bound by these sanctions, it continues to sell these critical materials to Russian companies. This has allowed Russia to remain relatively unaffected by some of the most important sanctions designed to cripple its military supply chain.
The continued flow of gallium, germanium, and antimony from China to Russia ensures that Russia can keep producing the high-tech equipment needed for warfare, from missiles to drones. Even as the U.S. and Europe target Russian companies directly, China remains an essential supplier, making it difficult to fully cut off Russia’s access to the materials it needs to sustain its military campaign.
In the midst of global sanctions and tensions, China’s role in supplying these critical minerals to Russia remains a key factor in the ongoing conflict, one that continues to influence the course of the war in Ukraine.
