Disclaimer:
The information included in the frequently asked questions (FAQs) has been coordinated with relevant services of the EU Commission and intends to help and give guidance to national authorities, EU operators and citizens for the implementation of Council Regulation (EU) No 833/2014 and Council Regulation (EU) No 269/2014. The FAQs do not have binding effect. Under the EU Treaties, Member States are responsible for implementing EU law in their national legal system. In case of individual matters, please contact your competent authority.
Are Russian unmanned aircraft operators registered in the EU Member State allowed to operate unmanned aircraft within the EU?
No, under Regulation (EU) 833/2014, it is prohibited for Russian unmanned aircraft operators to operate within the EU. It makes no distinction between manned and unmanned aircraft.
How to conduct in a case, where a drone operator from Russia wants to conduct a drone show in MS. The application is issued by MS applicant, but every document they have provided us (including operations manual and risk assessment), indicates clearly that the actual operator is indeed Russian operator.
Under the Sanction Regulations it is prohibited for Russian unmanned aircraft operators to operate within the EU. If the competent authority has the grounds to believe that the actual operator is not the EU applicant but the operator from Russia, the application should be rejected.
Is it allowed for a Russian citizen to fly an unmanned aircraft system (UAS) for an operator registered in the EU? Does it matter whether they are resident in a Member State or Russia?
It is permitted that Russian citizens, as employees (or similar) fly an UAS for the benefit of operators that are not subject to the sanctions. It does not matter whether this Russian citizen has a residence in the EU or not.