Ukraine calls on Chinese drone maker to stop use by Russia
BEIJING (AP) — 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., publicized 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this month Moscow is Beijing’s “most important strategic partner” at a time when Western tech and other companies have withdrawn from Russia over its Feb. 24 invasion.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 purchased 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 can’t 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.
https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-technology-business-beijing-moscow-94c422d10dd53e3e4f4928e1b7b81b9f