--- title: "Raids on drone manufacturer 'Vyriy': SBU investigates billion-dollar contracts for price inflation" description: "🚨 Raids on drone manufacturer 'Vyriy': SBI investigates billion-dollar contracts for price inflation. The company calls it an information attack but continues supplies to the army. #Ukraine #Drones #SBI" date: 2026-07-07T12:52:00.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/raids-on-drone-manufacturer-vyriy-sbi-investigates-billion-dollar-contracts-for-price-inflation tags: [] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Raids on drone manufacturer 'Vyriy': SBU investigates billion-dollar contracts for price inflation ![Drone by manufacturer 'Vuriiy' at exhibition: SBU investigates billion-dollar contracts for price inflation](https://xab.info/media/2026/07/07/obyski-u-proizvoditelya-dronov-viriy-dbr-proveryaet-mnogomilliardnye-kontrakty/obyski-u-proizvoditelya-dronov-viriy-dbr-proveryaet-mnogomilliardnye-kontrakty-1.webp) A serious scandal is unfolding within Ukraine's defense industry. Investigators from the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) have conducted raids at the office of Vyriy Industries, one of the key manufacturers of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for the Ukrainian army. The grounds for the investigation are suspicions of artificially inflating the cost of drones supplied to the state. ### Billion-dollar contracts under scrutiny According to RBC-Ukraine, the investigation is focusing on contracts signed in 2025. The preliminary version of the investigation suggests that the cost of the drones was unjustifiably increased by including inflated production, administrative, and other expenses in the cost price. We are talking about billions of hryvnias, which makes this investigation one of the largest in the sphere of military supply in recent times. The SBI press service confirmed the fact of investigative actions, noting that the inspection is aimed at identifying possible abuses in the procurement of equipment for the Armed Forces. ### Manufacturer's reaction: "Information attack" The manufacturer itself reacted quickly to the events. On July 7, a statement appeared on the company's official website, in which the raids and the preceding publications in anonymous Telegram channels were called part of a coordinated campaign against Vyriy Industries and its CEO, Alexey Babenko. "On the eve, a coordinated information campaign was launched against Vyriy Industries and the company's CEO, Alexey Babenko. Publications with manipulative and unconfirmed accusations appeared simultaneously on a number of anonymous Telegram channels and related resources," the statement reads. The company emphasizes that it is fully cooperating with law enforcement agencies and providing all necessary information within the framework of the law. At the same time, Vyriy Industries does not rule out that the coincidence of investigative actions and an information attack could be part of an attempt to discredit the business. According to the management, such actions could be beneficial to both an external enemy and unscrupulous competitors in the market with the aim of disrupting supplies and slowing down the development of the Ukrainian defense industry. ### Production not stopped Despite the pressure and raids, the company states that it is continuing to work in normal mode. Vyriy Industries guarantees the fulfillment of all production and contractual obligations to the Defense Forces of Ukraine and partners. This is critically important in conditions where drones remain one of the key elements of modern warfare. ### Context: new technologies and threats The scandal is unfolding against the backdrop of the active development of Ukraine's drone industry. Recently, a new interceptor, the ZIRKA, was presented in the country, created specifically to combat Shahed-type strike drones. The system is capable of automatically detecting and destroying fast enemy drones, which underscores the strategic importance of both production and control over quality and pricing in this area. The SBI investigation could become a precedent for reviewing public procurement mechanisms in the defense sector and strengthen control over the expenditure of budget funds in wartime conditions.