German Prosecutor Charges 2 With Illicitly Shipping Drone Parts to Russia

The German Federal Prosecutor's Office filed charges last month against a German national and a Russian national for illicitly exporting drone parts to Russia, the office announced March 5, according to an unofficial translation.

The German national, referred to as Waldemar W. in the news release, is the managing director of two electronic component supply companies he founded. From 2020 to 2023, he allegedly exported electronic parts to a Russian company that makes "military materials and accessories," including the Orlan 10 drone used by the Russian military in Ukraine.

To get around EU sanctions, he allegedly imported the goods first to Germany then shipped them to Russia but told the supplier that the goods would remain in Germany. He allegedly shipped the goods to Russia using "advanced recipients in third countries, including Kyrgyzstan and Hong Kong." The parts were valued at over $958,000.

The other charged individual, referred to as Natalie S., managed one of the companies founded by Waldemar W. and told the suppliers that the goods would stay in Germany.