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China Supplies the Tech Powering Russia’s Oreshnik Hypersonic Nuke
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![Photo of Ivan Khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
China has provided Russia with advanced machinery, tools, and components critical to the production of nuclear-capable hypersonic missiles, including the Oreshnik system.
According to The Telegraph on January 28, Chinese exports include precision computer numerical control (CNC) lathes and other specialized equipment used to manufacture warheads and missile bodies.
One such lathe was identified by Ukrainian military intelligence at the Votkinsk Machine Building Plant — a key facility for Russia’s missile program that produces the Oreshnik, Iskander-M, and Topol-M systems. The plant is currently under sanctions from the US, UK, EU, and Japan.
The value of Chinese-supplied machinery and dual-use technology to Russia is estimated at $10.3 billion, according to the investigation.
The Telegraph reports that in addition to heavy machinery, China has exported a wide array of components used in high-precision weapons and military aviation. These include:
Microchips and memory modules worth approximately $4.9 billion;
Ball bearings valued at $130 million, considered critical for aerospace applications;
Piezoelectric crystals used in radar systems and electronic warfare platforms, estimated at $97 million;
Telescopic optical sights and calibration instruments for weapons testing.
All of these items fall under categories restricted for export to Russia by a coalition of 39 Western-aligned countries, but China has not joined these sanctions.
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In January, Russia used an Oreshnik missile in a strike on the Ukrainian city of Lviv. The missile traveled at a speed of roughly 8,000 miles per hour, reaching its target in under 20 minutes.
According to The Telegraph, the system can carry up to six independently targeted warheads. Russian sources claim it cannot be intercepted, while Western analysts warn it presents a strategic threat to both Ukraine and NATO members.
The report emphasizes that China’s decision not to participate in Western sanctions allows Moscow to bypass restrictions via direct shipments or through intermediaries in third countries.
Analysts cited by The Telegraph suggest that without access to Chinese equipment and supplies, Russia would struggle to sustain its current levels of advanced weapons production.
Between 2022 and 2025, China exported at least $3.1 billion worth of machine tools to Russia, a figure that likely underrepresents the full scale of shipments due to the use of third-party transit routes and proxy firms.
Earlier, Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service reported that Russia possesses only 3–4 Oreshnik missiles, with plans to begin serial production in 2026 at a rate of at least five units per year. Ukrainian officials describe the missile as more of a psychological weapon aimed at Europe than a reliable battlefield asset.
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