Thread by @JulianRoepcke

#BREAKING
A @BILD investigation shows the Russian Army is systematically using German-made folding propellers to run its military drone fleet.
By doing so, #Russia might have found a way to bypass the 2014 #Ukraine-related #EUsanctions for dual-use goods.
bild.de/politik/auslan…

The German companies "Graupner" & "aero-naut" were shocked to hear that their rotor blades are used in Russian military drones.
One CEO told @BILD “We have no intention at all of supporting this kind of use & will consider the extent to which we can take action against such use."

@BILD We found evidence, the #Russian drones with #German rotor blades were used to coordinate artillery fire on #Ukrainian troops since 2015 and are still used to breach Ukrainian air space in 2019.
The most recent downing of such drone - a Granat-2 - happened on January 23.

@BILD All together, the German (vital) components are used in at least SEVEN Russian Army drone types & likely several hundreds drones.
Most of them were deployed in RU Army units between 2015 & 2017 in Russia & Armenia (also RU army).
Even the @mod_russia website pictures two of them.

@BILD @mod_russia Two reasons for the ? in the title

1. German BAFA confirmed there is a ban on supplying dual-use goods to Russia, “if these goods are, or might be, wholly or partly designed for military purposes (in the example described by you: potentially for installation in military goods)"

@BILD @mod_russia "However, whether there is an authorization requirement, and whether an export must be authorized, needs to be reviewed in each respective case”

2. To violate #EUsanctions, #Russia must have obtained the parts after 31-07-2014.
Something they will deny for sure (didn't tell us).

#Ukrainian
Росія використовує німецькі пропелери у військових безпілотниках на сході України, можливе порушення санкцій ЄС – Bild
via @radiosvoboda
radiosvoboda.org/a/rosija-nimec…

@radiosvoboda #Russian
ФРГ оснащает боевые дроны Путина – BILD
via @lenta_ua
lenta.ua/frg-osnashchae…

#Ukrainian
Німецькі пропелери на російських військових безпілотниках
via @chastime
ukrainian.voanews.com/a/russian-war-…

#Russian state news on it now
Mostly accurate.
Two things wrong: We did NOT say, the rotor blades are affected by the embargo (they do not fall under it, but possibly under dual-use regulations) and authorities did NOT promise to stop the transfer and use.
russian.rt.com/inotv/2019-02-…

Oh COME ON, @UnianInfo!!!
We did NOT report, German companies ARE SELLING the rotor blades TO RUSSIA !
Both companies were not aware, their components were bought by Russia from retailers to be used against Ukraine.
Be better than the Russian propaganda!!!
unian.ua/weapons/104310…