Despite the complexity of the business and falling profits, Chinese companies are in no hurry to leave the Russian market, because in this case they will have to explain their actions to the communist governments, which do not officially condemn Russia’s war against Ukraine. That’s why DJI’s decision came as a real surprise.

DJI leaves Ukraine

• The company, the world’s largest manufacturer of drones, has temporarily suspended its sales and all commercial activities in both Russia and Ukraine.
• He says he is immediately aware that his drones are being used for any harm, and is temporarily suspending sales in these countries to ensure that no one uses their drones in combat.
• The move comes a month after Ukraine’s Minister of Digital Transformation, Mikhail Fedorov, urged DJI to stop selling its products in Russia. The politician posted an open letter to the drone manufacturer on Twitter, saying: Russia uses DJI products to control its missiles aimed at killing civilians. The company later admitted that there were videos showing Russia using its products in the war.
• Also, in Ukraine The company was accused of directly supporting military aggression and providing the invaders with information about the Ukrainian army. ITC.UA allegedly limited the capabilities of the Aeroscope technology for the Ukrainian side, but not for the Russian side, thereby giving the invaders an advantage. DJI representatives deny any claims. According to them, the company does not have any means to restrict the use of its products by one or another party.
• Following these reports, MediaMarkt, the German electronics store chain in Europe, as well as two stores in the Netherlands, removed DJI products from its shelves.

A few days ago, DJI issued a statement condemning the use of its products to cause harm. The company warrants that it will not sell or sell drones for military use, and all distributors have agreed not to sell their drones to customers who will explicitly use them for military purposes.

We will never let any use of our products cause harm, and we will continue to strive to improve the world through our work,
– wrote the company.

The phrase DJI uses in its statements is somewhat surprising given that the company has been under US sanctions since 2021 as it is involved in China’s military-industrial complex and is likely to be involved in Uyghur crackdown. More than one million Uighurs and other minorities are being held in concentration camps in China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, according to US authorities.