Zelenskyy introduced new sanctions against developers of Russian AI drones

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed Decree No. 599/2025, which enacts the decision of the National Security and Defence Council dated August 16 on the application of personal special economic and other restrictive measures.

This was reported in Decree No. 599/2025  of the Ukrainian head of state and in a statement to journalists by the President’s Commissioner for Sanctions Policy, Vladyslav Vlasyuk.

Russia is actively developing drone technologies, focusing on autonomy, precision, and resistance to electronic warfare measures.

This requires modern electronic components and significant computational resources. It is precisely the suppliers and developers of these technologies that have been included in the sanctions package.

This refers to a new sanctions package targeting companies and organizations involved in the development of Russian unmanned technologies using artificial intelligence.

The list includes:

• Russian companies "Progmatik" and "Smart Birds". The former produces the "Mikrob 10" drone—a small-sized FPV kamikaze drone with an electronic autopilot and automatic target acquisition system. The latter manufactures the "Soroka" UAV with a payload capacity of up to 3.5 kg, equipped with an optical target retention system, capable of bypassing radio shadow zones and electronic warfare obstacles.

• Chinese companies 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. They supply components for "Shahed" drones and other UAVs: engines, cameras, microchips, transistors, resistors, resonators, navigation receivers, and routers.

• Russian Artificial Intelligence Technology Center "Neurolab", which develops and trains AI models for drones. Their work enables drones to independently navigate, recognize, and track targets, as well as process sensor data. This involves significant computational resources provided by participants of the Autonomous Non-Profit Organization "CTAI Neurolab".

• Center for Unmanned Systems and Technologies (CUST)—a structure established in Russia to advance innovations in the field of unmanned systems.

"Sanctions against these companies and organizations are of strategic importance, as they aim to restrict key chains in the development of Russian strike drones with AI elements, which can cause significant losses in combat," notes Vlasyuk.