Chinese Supplies of Fiber Optic Cables Aid Russia’s Advanced Drone Warfare

China has sharply increased exports of key components for drones to Russia, helping Moscow to intensify air attacks on Ukraine and gain an advantage on the battlefield.

The Gaze reports on it, referring to The Washington Post.

During the summer of 2025, Chinese companies significantly increased supplies of fiber optic cables and lithium-ion batteries to Russian drone manufacturers.

In particular, exports of fiber optic cables increased nearly tenfold between July and August after record shipments in May and June (119,000 and 130,000 miles, respectively), reaching 328,000 miles in August.

Fiber-optic drones differ from traditional FPV drones in that they operate via ultra-thin glass cables that are not susceptible to radio interception and electronic jamming, allowing them to fly over 12 miles and attack Ukrainian command centers, logistics lines, and jamming equipment behind the front lines.

“If you look at how the front line changes, [Russia takes] territory by chunks that equal the distance fiber-optic drones can fly,” said Kateryna Bondar of CSIS.

Fiber-optic drones have already helped Russia force Ukraine to retreat from some positions, such as in the western Kursk region.

Supplies of lithium-ion batteries also rose to a record $54 million in June and $47 million in August, while Ukraine received only $11–12 million per month during the same period.

Although China officially declares neutrality in the conflict and restricts direct exports of finished drones, its manufacturers of commercial drones and components are effectively supporting the Russian military industry.

Analysts note that the rapid production of large quantities of components at low prices and the development of new technologies give Russia a significant advantage over Ukraine on the battlefield.

The United States and the EU have expressed concern about such supplies to Russia and have even imposed several rounds of sanctions against Russian and Chinese companies. However, this has done little to slow the flow of goods that can be used for both civilian and military purposes, such as these cables and batteries.

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