Russian builders of military-grade drones, including those under U.S. and European sanctions, have imported millions of dollars worth of Tarot-RC drone parts made by the Chinese company Wenzhou Feiyue Aviation Technology Co., a Kharon investigation has revealed. Some of these parts have been shown to contain semiconductors manufactured by Western countries, including the U.S.
This discovery comes as governments, including the European Union in its latest sanctions package, continue to warn of Russia’s efforts to evade sanctions and circumvent the strict export controls against items that are critical to its military industrial base.
In guidance announced earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) outlined best practices to address export diversion risks. This includes mitigating attempts by parties — beyond those on public screening lists — that pose diversion risks to Russia.
In April, Ukrainian news outlet Ukrainska Pravda reported that Russia has significantly increased its drone capabilities on the front lines, with modernized drones regularly appearing on the Ukraine battlefield.
Kharon previously reported that Russian entrepreneurs and hobbyists are actively striving to bolster the country's production of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). However, their reliance on foreign parts, as revealed by the prevalence of Tarot-RC components being supplied to Russia, underscores the ongoing importance of these foreign supply networks, which global sanctions have attempted to choke.
In a review of commercial data, Kharon found that Tarot-RC drone parts have been imported into Russia in significant quantities since the beginning of 2023 despite claims by the company that it does not engage in such activity.
In a published statement on the Chinese-language Tarot-RC website in December 2022, the company explicitly notes Tarot-RC's requirements for its partners and dealers, stating that all products “must not be used for war purposes or threaten human life and dignity” and may not be sold to countries at war, specifically Ukraine and Russia.
This discovery comes as governments, including the European Union in its latest sanctions package, continue to warn of Russia’s efforts to evade sanctions and circumvent the strict export controls against items that are critical to its military industrial base.
In guidance announced earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) outlined best practices to address export diversion risks. This includes mitigating attempts by parties — beyond those on public screening lists — that pose diversion risks to Russia.
In April, Ukrainian news outlet Ukrainska Pravda reported that Russia has significantly increased its drone capabilities on the front lines, with modernized drones regularly appearing on the Ukraine battlefield.
Kharon previously reported that Russian entrepreneurs and hobbyists are actively striving to bolster the country's production of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). However, their reliance on foreign parts, as revealed by the prevalence of Tarot-RC components being supplied to Russia, underscores the ongoing importance of these foreign supply networks, which global sanctions have attempted to choke.
In a review of commercial data, Kharon found that Tarot-RC drone parts have been imported into Russia in significant quantities since the beginning of 2023 despite claims by the company that it does not engage in such activity.
In a published statement on the Chinese-language Tarot-RC website in December 2022, the company explicitly notes Tarot-RC's requirements for its partners and dealers, stating that all products “must not be used for war purposes or threaten human life and dignity” and may not be sold to countries at war, specifically Ukraine and Russia.
Notice on the restrictions of Tarot products in Ukraine and Russia. Source: Tarotrc.com
However, trade records and publicly available data, including social media, contradict that assertion, pointing to a consistent influx of Tarot-RC components into Russia, both through direct shipments from Wenzhou Feiyue Aviation Technology Co. and through intermediaries that move products from China and Hong Kong into Russia.
Known Russian Tarot-RC Importers
• Entep OOO: The sanctioned electronics company received direct shipments of Tarot-RC drone products from Wenzhou Feiyue Aviation Technology Co. as of May 2023. Entep was sanctioned by the U.S. in 2023, and earlier this year by Switzerland, for obtaining electronic components for ZALA Aero, a key supplier of UAVs to the Russian military.
• Lyumos OOO: Initially a small drone camera maker, the company became a major player in importing Tarot-RC cameras and drone engines after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Trade data shows imports worth more than $5 million between December 2022 and December 2023.
The owner and manager of Lyumos OOO, Nikita Shulpin, is a business partner of Igor Afanasiev, a key figure in the HIVE project, which develops Artificial Intelligence-powered drone defense platforms.
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More on HIVE Project and Russia’s UAV and Military Procurement: –-–-–-–-–-–
• Aerokeys Irkutsk: Products, including drone cameras, have found their way into the hands of a Russian amateur drone-development network supplying a Russian government research institute. In January 2023, a Russian Telegram account showed Aerokeys Irkutsk drones being tested by a user who provides supplies to military units.
US-Origin Goods and Design
Photos posted on the Aerokeys Irkutsk Telegram account in April 2023 show the Russian developer working with a Tarot-RC T10X-PRO drone camera that contains semiconductors from major U.S. and European chip manufacturers. These semiconductors, along with the drone camera itself, are subject to strict export restrictions by U.S., EU, U.K. and Japan from being supplied to Russian military end-users.
Known Russian Tarot-RC Importers
• Entep OOO: The sanctioned electronics company received direct shipments of Tarot-RC drone products from Wenzhou Feiyue Aviation Technology Co. as of May 2023. Entep was sanctioned by the U.S. in 2023, and earlier this year by Switzerland, for obtaining electronic components for ZALA Aero, a key supplier of UAVs to the Russian military.
• Lyumos OOO: Initially a small drone camera maker, the company became a major player in importing Tarot-RC cameras and drone engines after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Trade data shows imports worth more than $5 million between December 2022 and December 2023.
The owner and manager of Lyumos OOO, Nikita Shulpin, is a business partner of Igor Afanasiev, a key figure in the HIVE project, which develops Artificial Intelligence-powered drone defense platforms.
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More on HIVE Project and Russia’s UAV and Military Procurement: –-–-–-–-–-–
• Aerokeys Irkutsk: Products, including drone cameras, have found their way into the hands of a Russian amateur drone-development network supplying a Russian government research institute. In January 2023, a Russian Telegram account showed Aerokeys Irkutsk drones being tested by a user who provides supplies to military units.
US-Origin Goods and Design
Photos posted on the Aerokeys Irkutsk Telegram account in April 2023 show the Russian developer working with a Tarot-RC T10X-PRO drone camera that contains semiconductors from major U.S. and European chip manufacturers. These semiconductors, along with the drone camera itself, are subject to strict export restrictions by U.S., EU, U.K. and Japan from being supplied to Russian military end-users.
Reference to use of a Tarot T-10X-Pro camera in the Aerokeys Irkutsk Telegram Channel. Source: Telegram
A social media post on the Aerokeys Irkutsk Telegram account showing the interior of a Tarot-RC drone camera containing western-branded chips. Source: Telegram
Alpha RC, Inc., a U.S.-based company that also operates under the name Tarot RC Heli, claims to be “the primary design engineer for Tarot” and responsible for designing drone chassis for the brand.
Alpha RC’s website reports that “Tarot RC Heli is the leading design engineer for Tarot and we design 95% of their Tarot Drone chassis.” Source: Company website
It is unclear if any U.S.-origin drone parts are included in the products being sent to Russia. However, this investigation and trade-based activity raise concerns about the continued ability of Russian military end-users to acquire high-priority items that are critical for their military-industrial complex, potentially undermining international efforts to stem the flow of foreign technology and dual-use goods.
