Fuel pumps made by the German company Pierburg — a subsidiary of Rheinmetall — were discovered in several Russian kamikaze drones used to attack Ukraine. This was revealed by an investigation conducted by the German broadcaster rbb|24. The components ended up in Geran-2 drones, despite European sanctions imposed in February 2023.
The investigation was based on photos and serial numbers of Pierburg pumps provided by Ukrainian military intelligence. At least three Geran-2 drones shot down over Ukraine in 2024 contained individual parts of German origin.
These fuel pumps were included in the EU’s sanctions list as part of the tenth sanctions package. The German Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control (BAFA) confirmed that exporting them to Russia is prohibited. Nevertheless, Rheinmetall firmly denies exporting the pumps itself. According to a company representative, the components reached Russia through spare parts wholesalers in third countries, beyond Rheinmetall’s direct control.
“German companies typically do not track their products after shipment and rely on documentation for civilian use. The problem is that warring countries face far more complex challenges than simply tracing a part with a clear serial number,” said Roman Steblivskyi, Director of Policy and Advocacy at the Economic Security Council of Ukraine (ESCU), in a comment to rbb|24.
Russia launches thousands of such drones each month. Although each drone costs roughly $200,000, they enable Russian forces to overload Ukraine’s air defenses and prepare the ground for ballistic missile strikes. Drone expert Mauro Gilli from the Hertie School emphasizes that Russia cannot independently produce enough of the required components.
The German federal government announced that it would consistently pursue possible sanctions violations, though no systematic inspections of component supply chains are being conducted. Meanwhile, Rheinmetall is preparing to expand its military production at its Berlin site, reflecting the company’s new strategic reorientation.