Ukraine concerned about drone supply scarcity amid China's limitations

China's decision to impose restrictions on exports has raised concerns about the supply of drones in the war in Ukraine. Many of these drones are commercially made in China and regularly replenished due to the large number lost in the fighting. However, there are indications of a decline in the availability of Chinese drones and parts for both Ukraine and Russia. This is a significant issue as Ukraine is reportedly losing about 10,000 drones a month. Volunteer groups have been crucial in using donated funds to help restock the Ukrainian army's drone supplies. While commercial drones are used alongside purpose-made military designs, such as Turkish Bayraktar drones and Iranian Shaheds, the latest Chinese restrictions apply to longer-range drones weighing over 4kg and certain drone-related equipment. Chinese producers must now obtain export licenses and provide end-user certificates. The Chinese government also insists that commercial Chinese drones should not be used for military purposes. So far, the restrictions have had a minimal impact on the availability of drones, particularly the lightweight Mavics made by DJI. However, the supply of drone parts has been affected, and there are concerns that this situation may worsen in the future, impacting warfare strategies. Volunteers in Ukraine are actively buying remaining stock from European warehouses but are uncertain about future availability. The scarcity of parts like thermal imaging cameras is particularly worrying as it affects military operations during night-time. Those who assemble their own drones or enhance purchased models heavily rely on the availability of parts. Ukrainian drone operators are exploring alternatives to ensure their drones continue operating effectively. This is the latest challenge faced by volunteers procuring drones for both sides of the conflict. DJI, the world's largest commercial drone-maker, stopped direct sales to Russia and Ukraine two months after the start of the full-scale invasion and prohibited distributors globally from selling DJI products to customers in the two countries. The number of available Chinese drones to European distributors dropped significantly between August and September 2022. China's restrictions have also affected Russia, leading to a shortage of some parts. Russian buyers often seek Chinese drones in countries like Kazakhstan, but even those options have been limited due to stricter import regulations in those regions. To mitigate the impact, Ukrainian volunteers have been exploring alternatives from other countries. Ukrainian start-ups are gearing up to produce drone motors, providing some optimism for the future. Both sides of the conflict in Ukraine heavily rely on drones, making it the first armed conflict where drones are extensively used in such large quantities.