President enacts NSDC decision on sanctions against companies involved in the development of Russian drones with AI elements
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signed a decree enacting the decision of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine to introduce a new sanctions package against the Russian military-industrial complex.
Restrictions have been imposed on 39 individuals and 55 companies (43 Russian, 10 Chinese, 2 Belarusian). The sanctions are aimed at manufacturers of unmanned aerial vehicles using artificial intelligence, their suppliers and technology developers.
The sanctions include:
- key Russian producers of strike and FPV drones - Progmatik (Mikrob 10 UAV), Smart Birds (Soroka UAV), Zala Aero, Vostok Design Bureau;
- Chinese suppliers of navigation receivers, motors, cameras, chips and other key components (Dongguan Standard Trading Co., Zhejiang Lianxing Machinery Co., Guangzhou Benquan Import & Export, Shenzhen Sky Bow Navigation Technology, Harbin Bin-Au Technology Development, Topscom Precision Industry)
- two Belarusian companies that provide Russia with components for the production of UAVs;
- Russian research centers working on artificial intelligence for drones - the Neuralab AI Technology Center and the Center for Unmanned Systems and Technologies (CUST).
"Russia relies on drones with artificial intelligence elements. These are weapons that can operate autonomously, bypass electronic warfare systems and cause significant losses on the battlefield. Our task is to stop the critical chains of this production. Sanctions against AI manufacturers, suppliers and developers are a strategic step. Ukraine is synchronizing its actions with partners to deprive the aggressor of access to key technologies," emphasized NSDC Secretary Rustem Umerov.
Separately, the President of Ukraine signed a decree enacting the NSDC decision to amend the Regulations on the State Register of Sanctions. This will allow adding new categories of objects to the sanctions lists, including ships and aircraft used by Russia to circumvent international restrictions.
Ukraine is working with international partners to synchronize new sanctions in global jurisdictions and further increase pressure on the aggressor's military-industrial complex.