Germany arrests suspect over war drone component sales to Russia

Germany arrests suspect over war drone component sales to Russia

Germany on Tuesday arrested a German-Russian man for promoting to Russia digital elements which are utilized in army gear, together with drones at present deployed by Moscow’s troops in Ukraine.

Through his firm in western Germany, the suspect, recognized as Waldemar W., exported elements on 26 events from January 2020 to March 2023 to an organization in Russia that makes army tools, federal prosecutors mentioned in an announcement.

The objects equipped by the suspect are a standard part of the “Orlan 10” drone, prosecutors mentioned, noting that the actual kind of apparatus is “currently used by the Russian armed forces in Ukraine”.

Even earlier than Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the elements have been already coated by sanctions imposed by the EU in 2014 in opposition to Moscow over its unlawful annexation of Crimea.

To circumvent the embargo, the suspect first imported the products from overseas to Germany earlier than transferring them to 2 civilian dummy corporations based mostly in Russia, prosecutors mentioned.

The Russian corporations then ensured that the elements have been despatched on to the army gear producer, they mentioned.

After the outbreak of the warfare, the suspect allegedly switched to sending the products through different places akin to Dubai and Lithuania, with the assistance of fictitious recipients overseas.

Prosecutors estimated the worth of the commerce at 715,000 euros ($770,000).

Source: www.anews.com.tr