Latest news with #AndriiSybiha
Straits Times
6 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Chinese engines, shipped as ‘cooling units', power Russian drones used in Ukraine
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and visiting Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar viewing a Russian "Geran" drone - a copy of an Iranian-made Shahed-136 - in Kyiv, Ukraine, on July 23. LONDON - Chinese-made engines are being covertly shipped via front companies to a state-owned drone manufacturer in Russia, labelled as 'industrial refrigeration units' to avoid detection in the wake of Western sanctions, according to three European security officials and documents reviewed by Reuters. The shipments have allowed Russian weapons-maker IEMZ Kupol to increase its production of the Garpiya-A1 attack drone, despite the US and EU sanctions imposed in October designed to disrupt its supply chain, according to the sources and documents, which included contracts, invoices and customs paperwork. An internal Kupol document, reviewed by Reuters, showed it signed a contract with the Russian defence ministry to produce more than 6,000 Garpiya this year, up from 2,000 in 2024. The document stated that more than 1,500 drones had already been delivered by April. The long-range drone is being deployed to attack civilian and military targets deep within Ukrainian territory, with around 500 being used by Russia a month, the Ukrainian military intelligence agency said in a statement to Reuters. The European security officials asked that neither they nor their organisation be identified due to the sensitivity of the information. They also requested some specific details in the documents be withheld, such as their dates and the cost of contracts. In September, Reuters reported that Kupol was producing the Garpiya using Chinese technology, including L550E engines made by Xiamen Limbach Aviation Engine Co. A month after the Reuters' report, the European Union and the US sanctioned several companies involved in producing the drones, including Xiamen. In the wake of the sanctions, a new Chinese firm called Beijing Xichao International Technology and Trade has started supplying the L550E engines to Kupol, according to invoices, a Kupol internal letter and transportation documents reviewed by Reuters. The increase in production of Garpiya as well as the new intermediaries supplying parts for the drones are reported by Reuters for the first time. The news agency could not determine how Xichao obtained the engines from the maker Xiamen Limbach. Xiamen Limbach did not respond to a request for comment and Reuters was unable to reach Xichao. IEMZ Kupol, Russia's trade and industry ministry and the defence ministry also did not respond to a request for comment. In a statement to Reuters, China's foreign ministry said it was unaware of the export of parts for the Garpiya and it has controlled foreign sales of dual-use goods in line with China's own laws and international obligations. 'China has always opposed unilateral sanctions that lack basis in international law and are not authorised by the UN Security Council,' the statement said. The European Commission did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Both the US and EU have repeatedly imposed sanctions on companies in third-party countries, including China, alleged to have provided dual-use technology to Russia. Kupol has been sanctioned since December 2022 by the EU and December 2023 by the US for its involvement in Russia's defence sector. Diplomatic warnings European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is due to travel to China for a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang on July 24, amid tensions over Beijing's support for Russia's war effort. The European Union's top diplomat Kaja Kallas told Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on July 2 that Chinese firms' support for Russia in the war posed a threat to European security and she urged China to cease trade that sustains Russia's military machine, the EU said in a statement. Meia Nouwens, senior fellow for Chinese security and defence policy at the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), said China's prime concern was to help sustain Russia's war effort to ensure the United States remained focused on Ukraine. 'This does not help China and Europe come closer together, diplomatically,' she said. China says it imposes strict controls on the export of drones and their parts and has never provided either side of the war in Ukraine with lethal weapons. A person familiar with Beijing's thinking on the issue said that China produces around 75 per cent of world's drones, with the majority not for military purposes; if Russia was using them as weapons, then the same was also true of Ukraine, the person added. Ahead of the July 24 summit, one European official said the EU was not asking China to cut economic ties with Russia but to strengthen customs and financial controls to reduce the flow of specific dual-use goods. The Garpiya, which means harpy in Russian, is based on the Iranian-made Shahed drones but relies on Chinese technology, the three European sources said. The Ukrainian military intelligence agency said the Chinese-made components in the drone included the engine, control systems, and navigation equipment. The engines were shipped by Xichao to a Russian front company identified as SMP-138, which then forwarded them to a second Russian firm LIBSS, according to another internal Kupol document, seen by Reuters. Mr Abram Goldman, registered as the owner of SMP-138, did not respond to an emailed request for comment. LIBSS also did not respond to Reuters' questions. A contract for LIBSS to supply Kupol with the engines, reviewed by Reuters, stated they would be described as cooling units in shipping documents because of their sensitivity. The delivery route was from Beijing to Moscow then to Izhevsk, where Kupol has manufacturing facilities. Describing them as cooling units allowed the goods to be exported to Russia without alerting Chinese authorities, the three security officials said. Transportation documents reviewed by Reuters showed that Sichuan Airlines and China Southern Airlines, China's largest carrier, had transported components for the drones to sanctioned Russian companies since October. China Southern did not respond to Reuters' questions and Sichuan could not be reached for comment. REUTERS
Straits Times
6 days ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Israel, Ukraine announce ‘dialogue' on countering Iran
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar (left) and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha walking in Kyiv on July 23. KYIV - Israel and Ukraine said on July 23 they had agreed to start talks on countering the 'threat' posed by Iran, in a sign of deepening ties between the two countries. Both see Iran, a close ally of Russia, as a malign actor on the world stage. Israel has long accused Iran of developing nuclear weapons, an allegation it denies, while Ukraine is regularly attacked from Russia by Iranian-designed drones. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha described Iran as an 'existential threat' to global security during a joint press conference in Kyiv with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar – the most senior Israeli official to visit Ukraine since 2023. 'Our countries face common security challenges. Today, we have decided to launch a separate dialogue on the Iranian threat,' Mr Sybiha said. Mr Saar said any effort to curb Tehran's access to weapons and technology contributed to the security of Europe and Ukraine. 'I thank President (Volodymyr) Zelensky and the Ukrainian government for its position that Iran must not have nuclear weapons,' he said. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Judge asks prosecution for more information on Kpods in first case involving etomidate-laced vapes Singapore Male victim of fatal Toa Payoh fire was known to keep many things, say residents Singapore 5 teens arrested for threatening boy with knife, 2 charged with causing hurt Singapore HDB launches 10,209 BTO and balance flats, as priority scheme for singles kicks in Sport Bukayo Saka the difference as Arsenal beat AC Milan at National Stadium Singapore Cyclist charged after allegedly hitting elderly pedestrian, killing him Singapore Over 1.15 million Singaporeans aged 21 to 59 have claimed SG60 vouchers Singapore Singapore Oceanarium will enhance tourism while supporting sustainability: Grace Fu Ukraine has expressed frustration at Israel's neutral stance on the Russian invasion, but the two share common interests. Kyiv has long accused Tehran of supplying military hardware to Moscow. In June, Israel launched a surprise bombing campaign against Iran with the stated aim of destroying military and nuclear sites, an action that Kyiv supported. AFP
Al Arabiya
6 days ago
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
Israel, Ukraine announce ‘dialogue' on countering Iran
Israel and Ukraine said Wednesday they had agreed to start talks on countering the 'threat' posed by Iran, in a sign of deepening ties between the two countries. Both see Iran, a close ally of Russia, as a malign actor on the world stage. Israel has long accused Iran of seeking to develop nuclear weapons, an allegation Tehran denies, while Ukraine is regularly attacked from Russia by Iranian-designed drones. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha described Iran as an 'existential threat' to global security during a joint press conference in Kyiv with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar – the most senior Israeli official to visit Ukraine since 2023. 'Our countries face common security challenges. Today we have decided to launch a separate dialogue on the Iranian threat,' Sybiha said. Saar said any effort to curb Tehran's access to weapons and technology contributed to the security of Europe and Ukraine. 'I thank President (Volodymyr) Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian government for its position that Iran must not have nuclear weapons,' he said. Ukraine has expressed frustration at Israel's neutral stance on the Russian invasion, but the two share common interests. Kyiv has long accused Tehran of supplying military hardware to Moscow. Last month, Israel launched a surprise bombing campaign against Iran with the stated aim of destroying military and nuclear sites, an action that Kyiv supported.
India Today
20-07-2025
- Politics
- India Today
1 dead after Russia launches massive drone and missile attack on Ukraine
Russia launched a massive overnight attack on Ukraine, firing over 300 drones and more than 30 cruise missiles, killing one person and injuring several others. The attack marks a significant escalation in Moscow's ongoing aerial campaign against Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the strike on X, noting that the Black Sea port city of Odesa was among the hardest hit. More than 20 drones and a missile struck the city, killing one person and injuring six, including a child. A fire broke out in a residential high-rise, where five residents were Elsewhere, damage was reported to critical infrastructure in Ukraine's northeastern Sumy thanked global allies for their continued support, emphasising the need for rapid implementation of defence agreements, including joint weapons production, drone manufacturing, and air defence recent drone activity has grown more aggressive, with analysts warning of a continued escalation. Earlier this month, Moscow launched over 700 drones in a single night, a record Defence Ministry claimed it intercepted 71 Ukrainian drones overnight, while Moscow's mayor said 13 were shot down near the a separate development, Ukraine's foreign ministry accused Russia of forcibly deporting Ukrainian citizens, including former prisoners, into Georgia and abandoning them without identification. Deputy Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said dozens are now stuck in a transit zone. Russia has yet to respond to the allegation.- Ends
Observer
19-07-2025
- Politics
- Observer
Russia leaving Ukrainians stranded, says FM
KYIV: Ukraine's foreign minister accused Russia on Saturday of deporting Ukrainians into Georgia and leaving them stranded there without proper documents, hundreds of miles from their home. Andrii Sybiha said Russia was stepping up the expulsions of Ukrainians — many of them former prisoners — over the southern frontier, rather than sending them directly over its border with Ukraine. That amounted to Russia "weaponising the deportation of Ukrainian citizens," he added on X. "Since June, Russia has significantly increased the number of deported Ukrainian nationals, mostly former convicts, to the border with Georgia," Sybiha wrote. "As a result, dozens of people, many of whom lack proper documentation, have been stuck in the transit zone." Sybiha said 43 citizens, including former political prisoner Andrii Kolomiyets, have been transported from Georgia to Ukraine via Moldova, but more people remain in "difficult conditions" at the border. Sybiha called on Russia to transport them to the Ukrainian border instead. Earlier on Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he had discussed the matter with Sybiha. — Reuters
