NACP declares Chinese company sponsor of war for supply of all-terrain vehicles to Russian army

The NAPC press service reported the information.

"Russia's Ministry of Defense purchased Chinese all-terrain vehicles manufactured by Shandong Odes Industry Co., Ltd. for the needs of its army. In addition, this Chinese company continues to actively supply other vehicles to Russia and pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to the aggressor's budget," the NACP said, adding that this was the basis for adding the leading manufacturer of all-terrain vehicles Shandong Odes Industry Co., Ltd (Aodes) to the list of international sponsors of the war.

The company is headquartered in Shandong, China. The Aodes brand is also registered in the United States and includes a full range of all-terrain vehicle manufacturing, service, and sales, with research and development teams in the United States, Europe, and China.

Shandong Aodes has been supplying its products to Russia since 2021, and the official distributor of Aodes in Russia is Mercury-DV LLC. In 2022 alone, it paid over $797,000 in taxes to the aggressor's budget.

The Russian representative office of Aodes consists of over 60 dealerships that sell and service ATVs, all-terrain vehicles and golf carts of its own production, the NACP emphasized.

Aodes continues to be an active participant in import and export operations with the terrorist state. In particular, in the period from February 24, 2022, to July 31, 2023, the company imported goods worth over $16 million. These purchases included ATVs, spare parts for their repair and maintenance, and inflatable boats.

In March and April 2023, the company shipped 137 Desertcross vehicles to Russia for more than $1.5 million. The main buyer was the Russian motorsport company Formula 7/Formula D. In the period from October 2022 to August 2023, China's Shandong Odes exported spare parts for ATVs and all-terrain vehicles totaling more than $19 million.

In 2023, the Russian Ministry of Defense purchased Chinese Desertcross 1000-3 all-terrain vehicles for the needs of its army. As of mid-November 2023, Russia already had 537 units of Desertcross 1000-3, and by the end of March 2024, another 1,590 units with "additional options" are to be purchased. 

These vehicles were provided to special purpose units for the transportation of ammunition and other cargo weighing up to 550 kg, as well as for sanitary and evacuation tasks.

Recently released footage by the Ukrainian military confirms the destruction of two Chinese-made Desertcross 1000-3 all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) near the village of Krynky in the temporarily occupied territories of the Kherson region.

Shandong Aodes Industry, through its distributors Mercury-DV LLC and Formula D LLC, provides technological capabilities to the aggressor country and actively supports Russia's economy and military machine. There were no attempts by the company's management to condemn Russia's war against Ukraine, the NACP emphasized.

• On Saturday, December 16, Austria approved the 12th package of EU sanctions against Russia after Ukraine removed Raiffeisen Bank International from the list of international war sponsors.