Russia Accused Of Using Thailand To Funnel Chinese Drones

Russia dramatically ramped up drone imports from Thailand in 2025, with the bulk of the shipments traced back to Chinese manufacturers and routed through Thai intermediaries, according to a new investigation by Bloomberg.

Customs records show that between January and November 2025, Russia imported $125 million worth of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) from Thailand — accounting for 88% of Thailand’s total drone exports during that period. By comparison, Thailand imported less than $1 million worth of drones in 2022 and exported none to Russia.

The spike coincided with a surge in Chinese exports to Thailand. Over the same 11-month period in 2025, China shipped $186 million worth of drones to the Southeast Asian nation, suggesting Bangkok functioned largely as a transit hub.

One of the key intermediaries identified is Bangkok-based Skyhub Technologies Ltd., a firm previously registered as a car rental and geology services company. Trade data shows Skyhub imported roughly $25 million in drones in 2025, primarily from Chinese manufacturer Autel Robotics. The company says its products are designed for civilian use and include geofencing systems intended to prevent flights in active conflict zones.

Another Bangkok firm, China Thai Corp., imported $144 million worth of drones from China in the first 11 months of 2025. The company was sanctioned by the United Kingdom in October for allegedly supplying military-related technology to Russia. Financial filings show its revenue rose sharply from negligible levels between 2020 and 2022 to tens of millions of baht by 2024.

Thailand’s Customs Department said exports complied with domestic law but confirmed that the Ministry of Commerce is reviewing the issue and could tighten controls.

Separately, the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project previously reported that Russia’s Geran-2 drones rely heavily on foreign-made components, including parts from the United States, China and Europe, often routed through intermediaries to bypass sanctions.

The findings underscore ongoing challenges in enforcing Western export controls as Russia continues to source critical technology through third countries.

Takeaways pls

Key Takeaways

1. Thailand Emerges As A Sanctions Workaround Hub
Russia imported $125 million worth of drones from Thailand in 2025 — eight times more than in 2024 — accounting for 88% of Thailand’s total UAV exports. The surge strongly suggests Bangkok has become a transit channel for Chinese-made drones heading to Moscow.

2. Chinese Supply, Thai Intermediaries
Data reviewed by Bloomberg shows China exported $186 million in drones to Thailand over the same period, with companies such as Autel Robotics named as major suppliers. Thai firms including Skyhub Technologies and China Thai Corp. allegedly acted as middlemen — with the latter already under UK sanctions.

3. Sanctions Enforcement Still Porous
The findings echo earlier investigations by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project showing Russia’s drones rely heavily on foreign components routed through third countries. Despite Western export controls, Moscow continues to access critical military tech via indirect trade networks — highlighting enforcement gaps rather than supply shortages.

SOURCE: UNITED24 MEDIA

I thought there were int'l sanctions and an embargo on Russia. The Thai company should be charged and the execs sent to prison.