China Sold $12 Million in Drones to Russia Over the Past Year: The New York Times

Following the start of Russia's large-scale invasion of Ukraine, Chinese companies have sold drones and their individual parts to the Russian Federation for a total of $12 million. This was reported by The New York Times, citing Russian customs data obtained from one of the importing firms.

The report mentions that 70 Chinese exporters have supplied Russia with 26 different brands of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Among these companies is DJI, described by the newspaper as the most recognized manufacturer of drones. Supplies have also been conducted by numerous smaller firms through intermediaries and exporters.

DJI denies supplying drones to Russia. A company representative stated that since April 16, 2022, they have been unable to find any records of direct shipments to Russia. The company announced that it would investigate how other firms may be supplying drones. DJI claims to have halted all deliveries to Russia since the start of the war in Ukraine and maintains “detailed records” to ensure compliance with U.S. sanctions.

In 2020, the U.S. Department of Commerce placed DJI on a blacklist, preventing American companies from selling technology to the firm without special permission. However, as noted by The New York Times, this measure did little to disrupt DJI's dominance in the industry. According to customs data, the company accounted for nearly half of the Chinese drone shipments to Russia.

The publication also notes that it is difficult to determine whether Chinese drones contain American technology. This is partly due to indirect distribution channels and vague product descriptions in export documents. Journalists speculate that official sales may be conducted through unofficial avenues and via countries friendly to Russia, such as Kazakhstan, Belarus, or Pakistan.