Chinese drone firm DJI pauses operations in Russia and Ukraine

Image source, Getty Images

All business activities in Russia and Ukraine have been suspended by the world's largest commercial drone-maker.

Since the beginning of the war, the company has been urged to stop its drones being used by Russia.

The Chinese firm said that the decision was not a statement about any country and that its drones are not for military use.

Taras Troiak, chairman of the Ukrainian Federation of UAV Owners, told the BBC he didn't think it would stop Russia from using drones.

He thinks that drones could be easily smuggled into Russia from China because stores might run out in a few months.

The drones are being used by Russia. To look around, to find any soldiers around, and to make sure that nobody is very close to you are some of the things Mr Troiak believes they are used for.

If they want to take a building or a factory, they can use the drones to find Ukrainian soldiers.

Mr Troiak felt that supply should be cut to Russia and not to Ukraine because he felt that the conflict should be neutral.

We are protecting our country. We are using a lot of different things, including cars, phones, and drones. We don't have any other choice but to use the drones in military use.

The military use of its equipment is against the principles of the company.

It is unusual for a major Chinese company to suspend operations.

China wants a peaceful solution to the conflict. It hasn't condemned the Russian invasion.

DJI is revising compliance requirements in various countries. All business activities in Russia and Ukraine will be temporarily suspended pending the current review, it said in a statement.

In March, the Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine, Mykhailo Fedorov, said that he wanted to block the products that were helping Russia kill the Ukrainians.

The company replied to the open letter that said its products were only for civilian use.

It said that if Ukraine asked, it would turn on the system that restricts where drones can operate, to prevent any of them from flying in the country.

The system was not foolproof.

Mr Troiak shared a link to a video that purports to show a drone used in combat in Mariupol. The controller has a logo on it.

• market or sell its products for military use
• provide after-sales services for products that have been identified as being used for military purposes
• customise or enable modifications that would enable its products for military use

We are concerned about the reported military use of our products, as we stated on April 21, 2022, according to a DJI spokesman.

They said the suspension of operations was a statement about their principles.

DJI has only made products for civilians. They are not designed for military use.

The use is against our principles and has legal implications.