Ukraine calls on Chinese drone maker DJI to stop use by Russia
- Vice-Prime Minister Mykhailo Federov says the civilian models are being used by the Russian army to help target their missiles
- DJI says it can’t deactivate individual drones, but can impose software restrictions usually used to keep drones away from airports or other sensitive areas
Ukraine is appealing to a Chinese maker of civilian drones to block what the Ukrainian government says is their use by the Russian army to target missile attacks.
Vice-Prime Minister Mykhailo Federov’s appeal to DJI Technology Co, publicised on Twitter, highlights the tensions over Ukraine for Chinese companies.
Foreign Minister Wang Yi said this month Moscow is Beijing’s “most important strategic partner” at a time when Western tech and other companies have withdrawn from Russia over its February 24 invasion.
Russian forces “are using DJI products in order to navigate their missile”, Federov wrote in a letter to DJI. He appealed to DJI to deactivate drones in Ukraine that were bought and activated in Russia, Syria or Lebanon: “Block your products that are helping Russia to kill the Ukrainians!”
DJI, in a letter on its own Twitter account, responded that it cannot deactivate individual drones but can impose geofencing, or software restrictions that usually are used to keep drones away from airports or other sensitive areas. The company said that would affect all DJI drones in Ukraine.
