A series of arrests involving current and former executives of “Drone Solutions” has emerged. On August 8, the Kuzminsky District Court in Moscow detained the company’s CEO, Vyacheslav Barbashov, along with the former head of Iraq, Khazaliya. They face charges of large-scale fraud, although the specifics of the case remain undisclosed.
“Drone Solutions” specializes in the development and production of unmanned aerial systems. In April, one of its drones, named “Aist,” was showcased to the controversial Russian president, Vladimir Putin. The company claims its drones are used for various applications, including operations by security agencies, monitoring, rescue missions, and cargo delivery.
This incident marks at least the fourth case of criminal prosecution against executives and managers of drone manufacturing companies since early May. On May 5, Roman Lyubimenko, head of the Krasnodar-based “Belaia Strela,” was arrested in absentia for alleged fraud related to drone supply for wartime purposes, with losses estimated at 90 million rubles (approximately $1.1 million).
On May 8, reports surfaced about the arrest of former “Transport of the Future” CEO Yuri Kozarenko, who faces similar fraud allegations. At the end of July, several leaders and managers from the “Efko” group and a Ministry of Industry and Trade employee were also detained, suspected of involvement in multi-billion ruble fraud during the import substitution of drones.
Before early May, four other cases of criminal prosecution against manufacturers and suppliers of drones had already been reported since the onset of the full-scale war.
The recent arrests coincide with personnel changes in the leadership of Russian military drone systems. On August 5, Putin appointed General Colonel Denis Lyamin to lead these forces.
