Businessman arrested in Germany for selling drone parts to Russia

A businessman who sold drone parts to Russia has been arrested in Germany. It is a German citizen of Russian origin.

This was reported by the German Prosecutor General's Office.

Between January 2020 and March 2023, he exported 26 electronic components to a company in Russia producing military equipment. In particular, it concerns the Orlan-10 drone used by the Russian army in the war against Ukraine.

In order to circumvent EU sanctions, the businessman imported the goods in question from abroad to Germany and then exported them to Russia - in some cases through a company in Baden-Württemberg that he controlled. The exports were initially made to two civilian shell companies in Russia. Following a discussion with the suspect, they organised the transfer of information to a Russian military manufacturer.