On April 18, 2025, Ukrainian authorities imposed sanctions on three Chinese companies while President Zelensky accused the Chinese Communist Party of providing weapons to Russia. This action comes amid the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, where Beijing has been maintaining close economic ties with Moscow. Despite China’s self-proclaimed neutrality, it has denied involvement in the conflict.
The updated list of sanctioned entities released by the Ukrainian government on Friday includes three Chinese registered companies: Beijing Aerospace Xianghui Technology Co., Ltd., Ruijin Machinery Co., Ltd., and Zhongfu Shenyang Carbon Fiber Xining Co., Ltd. These companies are all registered in China.
Zelensky stated that the Chinese companies targeted by Ukrainian sanctions are involved in producing the “Iskander” missile for Russia. The Iskander is a short-range ballistic missile system capable of carrying conventional or small nuclear warheads, which Russia has deployed extensively in the battlefield.
Ukraine revealed on Friday that Russian forces had used Iskander missiles to attack the city of Kharkiv in northern Ukraine, resulting in one fatality and over a hundred injuries.
Zelensky took to social media platform X to announce, “Today, Ukraine expands sanctions against nearly a hundred entities, including individuals and legal entities, many of which are involved in producing Iskander missiles similar to those used in the attack on Kharkiv.”
He added, “While most of these entities are from Russia, it is regrettable that some Chinese companies are included.”
Companies listed under the sanctions will be prohibited from conducting business in Ukraine, and their assets in Ukraine will be frozen, according to the sanction terms.
Ukrainian government data shows that in 2021, Ukraine exported goods worth $8 billion to China, primarily raw materials and agricultural products, while importing nearly $11 billion worth of products from China, mainly manufactured goods.
During a press conference in Kyiv last Thursday, Zelensky stated that intelligence reports indicated Chinese companies were supplying artillery and explosives to Russia, with some Chinese entities even directly manufacturing weapons within Russian territory.
Last week, Zelensky mentioned that several hundred Chinese citizens were assisting Russian forces on the Ukrainian battlefield, including two captured as prisoners of war. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has summoned Chinese diplomats to seek explanations.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian dismissed Zelensky’s accusations during a routine press briefing on Friday, stating that the claims were “baseless” and that China had never provided lethal weapons to any party involved in the Ukrainian crisis.