Russia uses German propellers in unmanned military aircraft in the east of Ukraine, possible violation of EU sanctions – Bild

Russian soldiers use complex blades for the propellers of German production in their unmanned aircraft, including in eastern Ukraine, according to a survey of the German edition of Bild . According to the investigation, it could be a violation of the European Union sanctions against Russia, but the manufacturers of blades were not aware of the use of their products.

According to the article, the blades of two German companies, Graupner / SJ GmbH and aero-naut Modellbau GmbH. & Co. KG are used in at least seven Russian military drone models: Garnet-1, Garnet-2, Garnet-3, Tahion, ZALA 421-04M, Pear and Orlan-2. According to the author of the article, these models were developed before the start of the Russian war against Ukraine and the imposition of EU sanctions in 2014, but mass production has already begun in 2015-2016. Some of them, with the German propellers, used Russian hybrid forces in eastern Ukraine, where they were shot down or forced by Ukrainian troops.

The two German companies mentioned in the article were struck by reports of the use of their military equipment. The companies ensured that these blades designed for aerial models would never be sold to military or industrial producers in Russia and assumed that they were republished by intermediaries.

The author of the article also cites the response of the Federal Office of Economic Policy and Export, although any general export of dual-use goods to Russia is prohibited, however, it can not unequivocally claim that there has been a violation of EU sanctions in these specific cases, as each of them requires a separate study.

Journal also adds that the sanctions come into force from 2014, and that Russia can theoretically claim to have already bought these blades.

Previously, there were cases where Russia had succeeded, through mediators or by deception or otherwise, in buying Western products that could not be overtly passed by the sanctions imposed by the United States. occupation of Crimea and by a new aggression in the east of Ukraine. The most famous case is that of the German company Siemens, whose gas turbines, due to resale between Russian companies, were routed to occupied Crimea, although the contract for their supply to Germany l & # 39; 39, prohibits directly.