China’s drone exports to Russia use a new route through Thailand

China’s drone exports to Russia use a new route through Thailand

Explosions are seen in the sky over the city during a Russian drone strike, amid Russia's attack on Kyiv, Ukraine, on March 8, 2025. (Photo: Reuters)

On the 30th floor of the Chartered Square building in downtown Bangkok, the low-key office of Skyhub Technologies Ltd serves as a nexus for a burgeoning and contentious trade.

The space, rented out by a serviced office provider, is visited only rarely by the company’s sole director and occasionally by Chinese nationals, according to building staff who asked not to be identified speaking about clients. No contact number is listed on its online registration documents. No one was available during a visit by Bloomberg News in late January.

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 (UAV) 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.

Thailand has so far largely escaped notice as a route to Russia. Yet an analysis of official Thai trade data shows that Thailand’s exports of drones to Russia have surged since 2022, when President Vladimir Putin ordered the full-scale