“Despite the appearance of inactivity, this is a busy conduit for advanced drones. Trade documents show that Skyhub Technologies is Thailand’s second-biggest importer of unmanned aerial vehicles from China. Where they go from there isn’t recorded, even though the bulk of drones imported into the country are re-exported to Russia — a perfectly legal trade.”
“The US’s Department of State declined to comment on the shipments through Thailand. But a spokesperson said that China has been supporting Russia’s war effort and accounts for about 80% of so-called dual use parts — a term for equipment with a potential military application — that Russia uses in the conflict.”
“In the 11 months to the end of November 2025, Russia imported $125 million of drones from Thailand, 88% of Thailand’s total UAV exports and eight times what it bought the previous year. In the same period, China shipped $186 million of drones to the southeast Asian nation, accounting for almost all drone exports to Thailand.”
“In 2022, Thailand exported less than $1 million of drones, with none going to Russia, the government trade data shows.”