DJI drones still flowing to Russia despite April suspension of sales

Despite DJI’s decision last April to halt importation to and sales of its products in Russia and Ukraine as a means of undermining their use in the war between the two countries, news reports now reveal the company’s drones continue surreptitiously flowing to Russian armed forces with the help of collaborators in China, the Middle East, and Europe.

An investigation by the Wall Street Journal found that DJI drones have been streaming to Russia’s military command in Moscow, then supplied to ground forces pursuing their invasion of Ukraine. Repurposing of its UAVs and related products as tools of war was exactly what the company sought to choke off when it decided to suspend sales in both countries last April. But since that time, individual and state backers of Kyiv have raised funds, procured drones – particularly those from DJI – through resellers, and delivered those to officials in Ukraine, often with much fanfare. 

Findings in…