DJI halts Russia and Ukraine sales to prevent use of its drones in combat

SHENZHEN, China – Drone giant DJI Technology Co. said it will temporarily suspend business in Russia and Ukraine to ensure its products are not used in combat, making it the first major Chinese firm to cite the conflict in halting sales in Russia. Ukrainian officials and citizens have accused DJI of leaking data on the Ukrainian military to Russia -- allegations the world's largest maker of consumer and industrial drones has called "utterly false." In contrast to the many Western firms that have pulled out of Russia to protest its invasion of Ukraine, Chinese companies have stayed there, in line with Beijing's stance of refraining from criticism of Moscow over the conflict. A DJI spokesperson said on Wednesday its suspension of business in Russia and Ukraine was "not to make a statement about any country, but to make a statement about our principles. "DJI abhors any use of our drones to cause harm, and we are temporarily suspending sales in these countries in order to help ensure no-one uses our drones in combat."