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Newsweek
21-04-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Chinese buyers selling knockoffs of Russian military gear back to Russia and Ukraine, authorities say
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Chinese nationals have been caught smuggling Russian military gear out of the country before reselling knockoffs back to Russia, authorities have told Russia's Izvestia newspaper. The items included bulletproof vests and uniforms that had been reversed-engineered and reproduced with inferior material, customs officials said. Why It Matters The West has accused China of keeping Russia's sanctions-hit economy afloat since President Vladimir Putin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, with bilateral trade reaching record highs thanks to a spike in oil and gas deals. The United States and European Union also alleged that China is supplying dual civilian-military use goods that support Russia's wartime industries. While China has in recent decades surpassed its northern neighbor in military might, it had long studied Russian military systems—from missiles and jets to air defenses platforms—to modernize the People's Liberation Army. Newsweek reached out to the Russian and Chinese foreign ministries by email for comment. What To Know Cross-border shipments of dual-use goods soared following the start of the Russia-Ukraine war, prompting Moscow to place a ban on the export of products with military applications, according to Izvestia. The restriction carries criminal charges of up to seven years in prison. Earlier this month, a 25-year-old Chinese man was arrested in Moscow after law enforcement seized two tactical vests he had attempted to send home by mail, the paper said. Another student was detained in December after being found with body armor, armored plates, bullet casings and other equipment in his university dormitory. The man claimed he had purchased the gear through online ads. An officer of the Russian National Guard Troops takes part in an operation to check drivers' documents in Melitopol, Zaporozhie region, on April 9, 2025. Konstantin Mihalchevskiy An officer of the Russian National Guard Troops takes part in an operation to check drivers' documents in Melitopol, Zaporozhie region, on April 9, 2025. Konstantin Mihalchevskiy Sputnik via AP Ruslan Shapiev, head of Russian defense contractor RUSARM, attributed the spike in illegal exports to growing demand for counterfeit goods and pricing disparities between countries, according to Izvestia. The market for military goods is saturated due to international trade and postal loopholes, Shapiev said. Cheaper Chinese knockoff equipment and uniforms have also been found in the possession of Ukrainian troops, he said, suggesting the items were flowing to both sides of the conflict. What People Are Saying Ruslan Shapiev, general director of RUSARM, told Izvestia: "There's nothing wrong with [China's] helmets, but their body armor is questionable. The design and ergonomics leave much to be desired. Russian gear is more expensive but better, and people will always choose quality." "China views Russia as a country with deep military experience. They watch everything—our gear, our processes. Russian uniforms on the market today can rival or exceed foreign models." Guo Jiakun, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, told reporters: "China welcomes all efforts towards a ceasefire, which is a necessary step towards peace. It is hoped that the parties concerned will continue to resolve the crisis through dialogue and negotiation." What's Next Despite President Donald Trump's pledge to end the war in Ukraine within his first 100 days in office, negotiations have stalled, with Putin rejecting a U.S.-proposed 30-day ceasefire. Following talks in Paris with Ukrainian and European officials, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Friday that the administration may have to "move on" if no breakthrough is reached.
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Chinese nationals reportedly smuggling military gear out of Russia
Chinese nationals have been increasingly attempting to smuggle military equipment and dual-use goods out of Russia, often using international postal services, Russian state-controlled media Izvestia reported on April 21, citing undisclosed sources. The incidents reportedly concern body armor, tactical gear, and other military apparel that are then studied and replicated using cheaper materials before being resold abroad. The news comes as China becomes increasingly involved in the Russian war against Ukraine. While Beijing officially denies supplying arms to Moscow, it has become a major supplier of dual-use goods since the onset of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. President Volodymyr Zelensky said on April 17 that Chinese exports to Russia also include weapons, making the accusation only days after saying that hundreds of Chinese nationals fight against Ukraine in the Russian military. China has denied any involvement in the war. Russian law enforcement reportedly detained a Chinese citizen in Moscow in mid-April, accusing him of mailing two tactical vests, including a Ratnik load-bearing vest and another modular design. The gear was seized, and further investigation linked the individual to several prior shipments of similar equipment to China, according to an unnamed source cited by Izvestia. Among the seized items were standard-issue 6B45 body armor, additional Ratnik systems, and combat backpacks – all of which are classified as military goods under Russian export law. A 2022 Russian government decree prohibits the export of such items without a license, citing national security concerns. In December 2024, a 27-year-old Chinese student in Moscow was arrested for allegedly storing military gear, including body armor and ballistic plates, in a university dormitory. The student claimed the items were legally purchased through online classifieds. The Russian news outlet reported that incidents of Chinese citizens attempting to smuggle Russian military-related goods have increased since 2022. In one of the first known cases, a Chinese national was convicted in the fall of that year for attempting to export sensitive sensors and sentenced to three years in a penal colony. A source familiar with the military gear market allegedly told Izvestia that the demand for counterfeit or reverse-engineered military equipment remains high, particularly due to pricing disparities and loopholes in international shipping platforms. Some of the replicas have allegedly appeared on Ukrainian battlefields. 'Counterfeit versions of Russian tactical equipment are regularly seen on fallen Ukrainian soldiers in the combat zone,' the source said. Ruslan Shapiev, CEO of defense contractor RUSARM, told the outlet that some of the smuggling cases might be linked to industrial espionage or foreign intelligence services. The Kyiv Independent could not verify these claims at the time of publication. While Chinese President Xi Jinping claimed to be neutral in the war, China strengthened its economic and technological ties with Russia, provided key materials for defense manufacturing, and saw some of its citizens join Russia's armed forces. Earlier this month, Ukrainian forces captured two Chinese nationals fighting for Russia in Donetsk Oblast. One of them reportedly said he paid about $3,500 to a middleman in China in exchange for Russian citizenship and military enlistment. Beijing has not publicly commented on the recent smuggling allegations. Read also: 'Everything we heard from Russians was a lie' — Chinese fighters captured by Ukraine speak out We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
