Chinese drones giant DJI suspends operations in Ru and Uk

27 avril 2022

The world leader in consumer drones, DJI has announced to "suspend" its commercial activities in Russia and Ukraine, becoming one of the few Chinese companies to publicly take such an initiative.

Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Mykhailo Fedorov wrote a letter last month to DJI accusing the Russian military of using the company's "products" to target civilians.

"We ask your company to end all relations and stop doing business in the Russian Federation," Fedorov said in the letter, which he posted on Twitter.

“Block your products that help Russia kill Ukrainians!” he tweeted.

The Chinese company responded in a statement on Wednesday.

“DJI is currently reassessing compliance requirements internally in various jurisdictions,” she said.

"Pending this review, DJI will temporarily suspend all business operations in Russia and Ukraine."

The decision is "not related to Western sanctions", DJI told AFP.

Last week, the Chinese company castigated the military diversions of its products.

"DJI has only ever manufactured products for civilian use," she said.

“DJI has always unequivocally opposed attempts to mount weapons on its products” and “refused to customize or authorize modifications that would allow our products to be used for military purposes,” she had said. underline.

- Uncomfortable situation -

Mykhailo Fedorov quoted in particular in his letter the AeroScope system from DJI, which makes it possible to identify and locate drones and their pilots remotely. It is normally used by institutional clients to secure airports, nuclear power plants and government facilities, according to the company.

But Ukraine accuses the Russian military of using it to locate Ukrainian drones and their pilots so they can target them with missiles. Mykhailo Fedorov also asked the Chinese company to deactivate all DJI products operating in Ukraine but having been activated elsewhere - in particular in Russia.

With more than half of the global market share, DJI is by far the world's leading manufacturer of consumer drones, used by amateurs and professionals alike. A close diplomatic partner of Moscow, Beijing is embarrassed by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, but has so far refused to condemn it, putting Chinese companies in an uncomfortable situation.

Russia is hit by numerous economic sanctions due to the war and several Western multinationals have withdrawn from the country. Chinese firms present in Russia fear being exposed to indirect sanctions. In March, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), China's answer to the World Bank, suspended its activities with Russia, as well as Belarus, also targeted by sanctions.