How many Russian and Chinese weapons has the Myanmar military purchased since 2021?

The above figure was given in a report on May 17 by Mr. Tom Andrews, the United Nations special rapporteur on the human rights situation in Myanmar, according to Reuters.

Mr Andrews used trade data to detail transfers of weapons and other goods to the Myanmar military since the coup, which he said totalled $406 million from Russia and $267 million from China.

Also reported was about $227 million in purchases from Rosoboronexport, Russia’s state-owned arms exporter. Rosoboronexport has delivered Su-30 fighter jets, supplies for MiG-29 aircraft, and missile launch systems to Myanmar.

A Russian Su-30 fighter jet

Other Russian companies have provided a range of tools, equipment and spare parts for Russian-supplied weapons systems.

Some state-owned entities in India also conducted a smaller number of transactions, and some companies in Singapore, India and Thailand were also involved in transactions with the Myanmar military, according to the report.

The United Nations missions of the five countries mentioned in the report as sources of weapons and materiel have not yet responded to requests for comment, according to Reuters. There is also no immediate information on Myanmar’s response to the report.

At a press conference in New York City, Andrews said Chinese officials had previously criticized his report, saying he was discrediting the legitimate arms trade and acting outside his duties when conducting the analysis.

Since the coup, protesters have mounted armed resistance, and the military has responded with air strikes and heavy weapons.

ASEAN condemns deadly airstrike in Myanmar

According to Mr. Andrews' report, Russian-made Mi-35 helicopters, MiG-29 fighters and Yak-130 light aircraft, and Chinese-made K-8 trainer aircraft, are often used by the military to conduct airstrikes against Myanmar's opposition.

In an attack on a village gathering organized by opponents of the Myanmar military in Sagaing region on April 11, two bombs dropped from a Yak-130 killed at least 160 people, including nearly 40 children, according to reports.

Myanmar's military said it was attacking insurgents and after the Sagaing attack, it said the civilians killed may have been supporters of opponents it called "terrorists," according to Reuters.

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