Who is involved in the ”Vyriy” drones: rapid development, billion-dollar deals and a possible connection to Poroshenko
The manufacturer of FPV drones, “Viriy,” has decided not to conclude most of the tender agreements, even though the total amount of its won contracts exceeds 3 billion hryvnias. At the moment, there is increased information about the company’s possible cooperation with companies associated with the family of former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko.
The company “Viriy”, founded by Oleksiy Babenko, found itself at the epicenter of the scandal after refusing to sign specific state contracts for the supply of FPV drones. It was noted that, despite success in tenders worth more than three billion hryvnias, most of the agreements were not concluded. Representatives of the company explained this by an overload of production capacity and problems with tender terms, which could affect product quality.
This situation attracted close attention to the ownership structures of “Viriy” and its financing sources. In a short time, less than two years, the company from a small production turned into one of the leading manufacturers of FPV drones in Ukraine. In 2023, “Viriy” declared revenue of 39,998,500 hryvnias, and in 2024 this figure increased to 969,457,100 hryvnias, with a net profit of 144,828,000 hryvnias.
Such impressive growth has sparked rumors of possible support from influential political figures. Information about “Viriy”‘s connections with financial structures associated with Petro Poroshenko has appeared in the media and Telegram channels. Babenko himself is considered the nominal owner of the company.
Oleksiy Babenko worked in organizing fire shows before the start of the full-scale invasion and remained famous for this work. Less than two years after February 24, 2022, he headed the enterprise, which has since grown to millions in turnover. The rapid 25-fold annual growth in the company’s income has raised questions about the origin of its initial investments.
The author of the investigation reports that there is currently no direct evidence that the company belongs to Poroshenko. Still, there have been numerous cases of Viriya drones being transferred to the military in large quantities, suggesting their active use not only in humanitarian aid but also in brand promotion.
In just three months, Evertrade, part of the Ukrinvest corporate group (which, according to open sources, belongs to the Poroshenko family), shipped 73,000 carbon frames recognized as Viriya products. According to financial reports, Evertrade imported mainly materials from China, in particular carbon products used in the production of FPV drones.
A review of financial documents revealed that Evertrade was among Viriya Industry’s counterparties, suggesting a connection between the two companies. In 2024, Evertrade increased its turnover from 35 to 66 million hryvnias, but declared a loss of 3 million hryvnias, which is of concern to regulatory authorities and financial analysts.
“Viriy Industry”, founded in 2022, quickly established a presence in government procurement, particularly in drone and defense equipment production. The rapid growth of financial indicators over a short period raises questions about the company’s structure and transparency.
Despite legislative support for domestic UAV manufacturers, ensuring transparency in market prosperity and state-financing processes is becoming increasingly important. In the context of the constant need for new technologies, it is essential to be cautious about new market entrants, especially when billion-dollar contracts and fierce competition in this critically important industry are at stake.
