DJI suspends biz operations in Russia, Ukraine

DJI, the world's largest commercial drone manufacturer by market share, said on Monday it has temporarily suspended all business operations in Russia and Ukraine and emphasized it opposes any military use of its products.

"DJI is internally reassessing compliance requirements in various jurisdictions," the company said in a written statement. "Pending the current review, DJI will temporarily suspend all business activities in Russia and Ukraine."

The company is engaging with customers, partners and other stakeholders regarding the temporary suspension of business operations in the affected territories, it added.

The decision came after Ukrainian officials accused DJI of "leaking data on the Ukrainian military positions to Russia".

The Shenzhen, Guangdong province-based company has dismissed these accusations as "utterly false", and reiterated its policy against the use of its products for military purposes.

DJI said in another statement released last month that it did not market or sell its products for military use and "unequivocally opposes attempts to attach weapons to our products".

"We absolutely deplore any use of our products to cause harm," DJI said, adding its drones are designed for "civilian use" and it "refused to customize or enable modifications that would enable the products for military use".

The company said it would terminate business relationships with distributors, resellers or business partners that sell its products to customers who plan to use them for military purposes or help to modify the products for military use.

Currently, drones are used for a wide range of sectors, such as aerial photography, agriculture, geological surveys and mapping, electricity, oil and petroleum pipeline inspections, transportation, construction, public security and even disaster relief.

Founded in 2006, DJI has a share of almost 70 percent of the consumer drone market worldwide, with Europe and North America its biggest customers. It is ramping up efforts to expand its product portfolio.