China sends parts for helicopters to Russia despite the sanctions

Chinese state-owned defense firms have been maintaining trade relationships with sanctioned Russian defense companies during the past year.

CNN reported about this with reference to customs data.

In particular, it regarded the supply of spare parts for multipurpose military helicopters.

According to customs records reviewed by US journalists, throughout 2022, at least through mid-November, Beijing-based defense contractor Poly Technologies sent at least 12 shipments – including helicopter parts and air-to-ground radio equipment – to a state-backed Russian firm sanctioned by the US for its connection to war in Ukraine.

It is noted that most of the helicopter parts included in the shipments to Russia were labeled for use in the multipurpose Mi-171E helicopter, designed for transport people and cargo, as well as for other tasks.

At the same time, CNN reported that three shipments from Poly Technologies were labeled as including products for the operation or service of the Russian-made Mi-171SH (in the Russian Federation, it has designation – Mi-8AMTSh).

It is a multi-purpose military transport helicopter that can transport personnel and be equipped with weapons, and has been used in the war against Ukraine.

US journalists reported that the customs records came from two datasets.

One of those was provided by trade data firm Import Genius, whose information was collated by secondary sources from official Russian customs and shipment records.

Washington-based think tank C4ADS, which collates official customs records aggregated from multiple third-party providers, supplied CNN with the other dataset.

CNN points out that they have not verified the data independently, and notes that these supplies of spare parts may be part of existing contracts and standard business relationships between Russian and Chinese companies.

As previously reported, the U.S. Department of State believes that “China has largely supported Russia’s war in Ukraine from the very beginning,” even if it hasn’t provided lethal weapons. Therefore, the USA warned Beijing about the consequences of cooperation with the Russian Federation.