Official announcements from the U.S. government or statements from the U.S. Department of State

Russia Establishes Secret Long-Range Garpiya-3 Drone Program in China for Ukraine War

Sep 27, 2024, 01:46 PM

A recent report by Reuters indicates that a subsidiary of the Russian state-owned arms company Almaz-Antey has established a weapons program in China to develop and produce long-range Garpiya-3 attack drones for use in Ukraine. This development has raised concerns among U.S. officials and the Biden administration, who are worried about the implications of this previously undisclosed drone manufacturing agreement. Western officials have provided evidence that Chinese companies have been secretly supplying military attack drones to Russia, with the ultimate destination being Ukraine. This situation represents a significant breach of international sanctions by China, according to experts. The Chinese government has denied awareness of such a project. David Lammy has been urged to seek an explanation from the Chinese Ambassador. Reports indicate that these drones were sent for testing in 2023.