UkraineDrone fiber costs 6 to 10 times its 2025 price, a manufacturer says.
Russia bought over 10% of the world’s optical fiber in 2025, up from under 1%.
Chinese customs data show China shipped Russia 328,000 miles in August 2025 and Ukraine 72 miles.
TrendForce projects a 111 million mile global fiber shortfall in 2026, and Ukrainian makers now spool fiber in-house.
How each outlet framed it
- Ars Technica
- ties the drone fiber shortage to AI data centers competing for the same Chinese supply
Sources: Ars Technica