Richard Moore, who previously led Britain's MI6, says Russia owes its survival in Ukraine to Chinese backing. Speaking to The Wall Street Journal, Moore argued that Beijing's role has been largely overlooked in most analyses of the four-year conflict.
Most attention has focused on Iranian drones and North Korean troops supporting Moscow. But Moore insists that misses the real story entirely.
"Without China, Russia would have lost. It's as simple as that," Moore stated bluntly.
He added: "The thing that keeps Putin in Ukraine is Chinese support."
According to him, China supplies critical chemicals and components used in Russian artillery and drone manufacturing. These materials form the backbone of Moscow's sustained military operations.
Moore, now working as a senior advisor in the private sector, warned that Ukraine must remain the priority. He believes the international community cannot effectively counter China and Russia without first resolving the Ukraine crisis.
Drones now dominate the battlefield in ways rarely seen before. Moore noted that between 80 and 90 percent of combat casualties result from unmanned aerial vehicles.
Moore led MI6 from 2020 until stepping down last September. Blaise Metrewel succeeded him, making history as the agency's first female director.
