Chinese engines labeled as ‘coolers’ fuel Russian kamikaze drone boom

The article reveals that Russia is significantly increasing its production and deployment of kamikaze drones, specifically the Garpiya-A1, which are powered by Chinese-made engines covertly shipped under the guise of “industrial refrigeration units” to circumvent Western sanctions. These drones, produced by the Russian state-owned manufacturer IEMZ Kupol, are based on Iran’s Shahed drone and are actively used to strike military and civilian targets in Ukraine. Kupol has a contract to deliver over 6,000 Garpiya drones in 2025, a sharp rise from 2,000 in 2024, with more than 1,500 already delivered by April. Ukrainian intelligence reports that about 500 Garpiya drones are launched monthly, with critical components such as engines, navigation, and control systems all sourced from China. To evade detection and sanctions, the Chinese engines (L550E) are routed through intermediaries like Beijing Xichao International Technology and Trade and labeled as cooling equipment in shipping