--- title: "The 'Drone Solutions' Case: Arrests in Moscow, Billion-Ruble Embezzlement, and the Collapse of the 'Future Transport' Project" description: "🚨 Executives of \"Drone Solutions\" arrested in Moscow for fraud. Vyacheslav Barbasov and Irakli Khazalia sent to pre-trial detention. The company received over 220 million rubles from the \"Voskhod\" Foundation and grants from the Ministry of Industry and Trade. This is part of a massive cleanup in the UAV industry. #DroneSolutions #Arrests #UAV #Fraud" date: 2026-08-09T14:43:45.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/the-drone-solutions-case-arrests-in-moscow-billion-ruble-embezzlement tags: [drone-solutions, moscow-arrests, bpl-industry, fraud-case, minpromtorg] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # The 'Drone Solutions' Case: Arrests in Moscow, Billion-Ruble Embezzlement, and the Collapse of the 'Future Transport' Project ![Three men in business attire at a drone technology exhibition, possibly employees of 'Drone Solutions', whose 'Future Transport' project collapsed due to billion-dollar fraud and arrests in Moscow](https://xab.info/media/2026/08/09/delo-dron-solyushns-aresty-v-moskve-milliardnye-hishcheniya/delo-dron-solyushns-aresty-v-moskve-milliardnye-hishcheniya-1.webp) ## 🎯 Key Points - Arrests of "Drone Solutions" management for fraud - Funding from the "Voskhod" Foundation and state structures - Massive cleanup in the UAV industry - Contradictory data regarding embezzlement **August 8, 2026** saw a major scandal erupt in the Russian technology sector, which many experts are already calling the "drone crisis." The Kuzminsky District Court of Moscow sanctioned the arrest of the management of "Drone Solutions" — one of the key players in the unmanned systems market, which received funding from the state and major business groups. The current General Director and founder of the company, Vyacheslav Barbasov, as well as his predecessor in the post of head — Irakli Khazalia — have been sent to a pre-trial detention center (SIZO). They are charged with fraud on an especially large scale. According to the investigation, the defendants embezzled hundreds of millions of rubles allocated for the development of domestic robotics. ### Who are Vyacheslav Barbasov and Irakli Khazalia? Vyacheslav Barbasov is a key figure in the history of "Drone Solutions." He is the founder of the company and owns 40% of its shares. Under his leadership, the company positioned itself as a developer of advanced civilian unmanned aerial vehicles, including the "Wasp" and "Stork" models, intended for ice reconnaissance on the Northern Sea Route. Irakli Khazalia, the former General Director, also found himself at the center of the investigation. His arrest indicates that the probe covers not only the current management but also past periods of the company's operation. This may indicate systemic problems in financial reporting and resource management. ### Scale of embezzlement: from 220 million rubles to billion-ruble grants The company "Drone Solutions" received significant funding from various sources. The "Voskhod" Foundation, associated with Vladimir Potanin, invested more than 220 million rubles in the project between 2022 and 2024. Investments came in three large rounds: 20 million rubles in 2022, 170 million rubles in 2023, and another 30 million rubles in December 2024. In addition to private investments, the company received grants and subsidies from state structures, including "Skolkovo," "Rosatom," and the Ministry of Industry and Trade. About 23–24% of the company's shares belong to the NTI Foundation, whose founder's powers were transferred to the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade at the beginning of 2026. This makes the state a direct beneficiary and controller of the company's activities. ### Context: a cleanup in the UAV industry The arrest of the "Drone Solutions" management is not an isolated incident, but part of a massive wave of criminal cases against Russian drone manufacturers. At the end of July 2026, billionaire Valery Kustov and the top management of the "Efko" group were arrested on similar charges of fraud. The criminal case is related to embezzlement during the implementation of the "Future Transport" project, for which a state subsidy of 4.5 billion rubles was allocated. At the same time as the "Efko" management, Alla Polovchenya — Deputy Head of the Department of Unmanned Systems and Robotics of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation — was sent to a pre-trial detention center. These events indicate that law enforcement agencies are conducting a strict audit of the entire UAV industry for misappropriation of funds. [](/en/images/the-drone-solutions-case-arrests-in-moscow-billion-ruble-embezzlement-2) ### Contradictory data Although the main facts of the case are confirmed by court databases and financial reports, there are some inconsistencies in the versions of the parties. The investigation claims that the embezzlement was committed through fraud, however, specific details of the case are not yet disclosed. This leaves room for various interpretations. Moreover, some sources indicate that part of the funds may have been directed to real projects, but with violations in reporting. This creates a contradiction between official charges and possible internal processes within the company. ### Outcomes and prospects The arrests at "Drone Solutions" and related events in the UAV industry indicate a serious crisis of confidence in state and private investments in the technology sector. Law enforcement agencies are demonstrating a tough stance on the misappropriation of funds, which may lead to a review of financing mechanisms and control over projects. For the company "Drone Solutions," this could be a fatal blow, especially given its dependence on state grants and private investments. At the same time, these events could become a catalyst for reforms in the industry aimed at increasing transparency and efficiency of resource use. ## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification - [Accused of fraud: Drone manufacturers arrested in Moscow](https://news.rambler.ru/tech/56882794-obvinyayutsya-v-moshennichestve-v-moskve-arestovany-proizvoditeli-dronov/) - Детали арестов и финансирования - [Former head and current manager of UAV manufacturer arrested in Moscow](https://www.kp.ru/online/news/7113664/) - Подтверждение имен и статей обвинения - [Executives of unmanned systems company arrested in Moscow](https://rossaprimavera.ru/news/2dbe5888) - Контекст зачистки в отрасли БПЛА - [Current and former CEOs of "Drone Solutions" arrested in Moscow for fraud ...](https://uralpress.ru/news/v-moskve-arestovany-deystvuyuschiy-i-byvshiy-gendirektory-dron-solyushns-po-delu-o) - Дополнительные детали дела ## ❓ FAQ ### Q: Who was arrested at "Drone Solutions"? **A:** The current General Director Vyacheslav Barbasov and the former General Director Irakli Khazalia were arrested. ### Q: What article is charged to the defendants? **A:** Part 4 of Article 159 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (fraud on an especially large scale). ### Q: How much money was invested in "Drone Solutions"? **A:** The "Voskhod" Foundation invested more than 220 million rubles, and the company also received grants from "Skolkovo," "Rosatom," and the Ministry of Industry and Trade. ### Q: Is this case part of a wider cleanup in the UAV industry? **A:** Yes, it is part of a massive wave of criminal cases against Russian drone manufacturers that received state funding.