Chinese Drones Support Russia’s War Despite Sanctions

Customs data, Western officials, and security analysts suggest that despite the sanctions imposed by Western authorities over a year ago to shut down the pipeline supplying Russia’s war in Ukraine, small Chinese drones, such as the DJI Mavic 3, are still being used by the Kremlin to target Ukrainian forces.

Reports indicate that some commercial drones used in the conflict are supplied by Shenzhen-based Da-Jiang Innovations Science & Technology Co., commonly known as DJI, through Russian distributors. Others are being transported through the United Arab Emirates, reports the WSJ.

In 2019, the United States added DJI to its “Entity List,” which restricts American companies from doing business with the Chinese firm. DJI’s absence from the world’s largest Consumer Electronics Show, CES 2023, was a direct consequence of this.

Consumer drones, which are often used for surveillance and reconnaissance purposes, have reportedly been employed by Russian-backed…