China's Jilin Chemical Fiber Group ships 46 tons of drone-making polymer to Russia
Chinese state firm Jilin Chemical Fiber Group exported 46 tons of polyacrylonitrile to Russia's Alabuga-Volokno, a material that could enable roughly 1,300 drones.
Shipping records reveal that Jilin Chemical Fiber Group, a Chinese state-owned enterprise, delivered 46 tons of polyacrylonitrile to Alabuga-Volokno, a Rosatom subsidiary operating in the Alabuga special economic zone of Tatarstan. The cargo was recorded under a customs classification for civilian synthetic fibers, concealing its intended use in drone manufacturing. Polyacrylonitrile is a precursor for carbon-fiber components that strengthen drone wings, engines and fuel tanks, and analysts estimate the shipment could yield at least 1,300 unmanned aircraft, including models based on Iran's Shahed design built in the zone since 2023.
The Ukrainian Security and Cooperation Center obtained the documents, and their authenticity was confirmed by the Ukrainian government and a US House committee on China, with the British government also reviewing them. The US State Department and CIA declined to comment, while the UK Foreign Ministry did not dispute the information. The disclosure comes ahead of a scheduled meeting between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, prompting calls for the United States to pressure Beijing to stop such deliveries.
