The shipments have allowed Russian weapons-maker IEMZ Kupol to boost its Garpiya drone output, despite sanctions imposed by the U.S. and EU in October aimed at disrupting its supply chain. The information comes from the security officials and a trove of documents including contracts, invoices, and customs paperwork.
An internal Kupol document, seen by Reuters, indicates the company signed a contract with the Russian defense ministry to produce over 6,000 Garpiya drones this year, a sharp increase from 2,000 in 2024. The document also noted that more than 1,500 drones had already been delivered by April.
