The world's largest drone maker DJI Technology Co. has temporarily suspended business activities in Russia and Ukraine to prevent the use of its drones in combat, in a rare case of a Chinese company pulling out of Russia because of the war.
"DJI is internally reassessing compliance requirements in various jurisdictions. Pending the current review, DJI will temporarily suspend all business activities in Russia and Ukraine," the company said in a statement released Tuesday.
Russia has been hit with an avalanche of sanctions over the war. Many Western brands and companies have also withdrawn from the Russian market due to Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, but Chinese firms have kept operating there. Beijing has refrained from publicly criticizing Russia over the war.
Chinese companies have largely been silent on how they will handle the impact of sanctions.
Both Ukraine and Russia are thought to be using DJI drones in combat, even though the company maintains that its products are intended for civilian use.
Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine Mykhailo Federov wrote an open letter last month appealing to DJI to block sales of its drones in Russia, contending that Russian troops were using "DJI products in Ukraine in order to navigate their missiles to kill civilians."
"@DJIGlobal are you sure you want to be a partner in these murders?" Ukraine's Fedorov had tweeted.
"Block your products that are helping Russia to kill the Ukrainians!"
The AeroScope system installed in DJI drones allows the detection and monitoring of other drones and their operators in the vicinity via special receivers. The worry is that Russians might be using the AeroScope system to attack Ukraine drone pilots.
DJI has rejected claims that it leaked data on Ukraine’s military positions to Russia after German retailer Mediamarkt cited Russia’s use of DJI drones in the war as a reason it removed the company's products from its shelves.
Last week, DJI said in a statement that its drones are not marketed or sold for military use. It said it "unequivocally opposed attempts to attach weapons" to its products.
"We will never accept any use of our products to cause harm, and we will continue striving to improve the world with our work," the company said.
DJI has previously come under fire from human rights activists for allegedly aiding surveillance efforts in China's Xinjiang region, where an estimated one million Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities have been detained in a sweeping security crackdown.
The U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned the firm in December, banning Americans from trading its shares – though DJI is not publicly listed.
Another Chinese business, ride-hailing company Didi Global, reversed a decision to withdraw from Russia after it was blasted by members of the Chinese public for bowing to pressure from the West.