Monday, August 10, 2026 - A Moscow court has ordered the pre-trial detention of the current and former heads of Russian drone maker Drone Solutions as investigators pursue a major fraud case involving the company.
The Kuzminsky District Court ordered CEO Vyacheslav Barbasov and his predecessor, Irakli Khazaliya, into custody on charges of large-scale fraud under Article 159 of Russia’s Criminal Code. The case adds fresh pressure to an industry that has become increasingly important to Russia’s military and technology sectors.
Drone Solutions has developed drones, software and computer-vision systems using neural-network technology and has received financial support from several Russian state-linked organisations.
Reports say the company has obtained funding connected to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Skolkovo and Rosatom, while part of its ownership is also linked to a state-backed technology fund. The precise allegations and evidence behind the criminal case have not yet been publicly detailed, and the suspects remain entitled to the presumption of innocence.
The arrests come as Moscow continues to expand domestic drone production, making oversight of government-backed manufacturers increasingly sensitive. The case also follows other fraud investigations involving Russian drone executives, highlighting growing scrutiny of how state and defence-related funding is being used across the rapidly expanding sector.
For Drone Solutions, the immediate focus will now be on the investigation, the court proceedings and whether authorities uncover wider financial irregularities involving the company or its funding networks.
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