In the fall of 2025, the state-owned enterprise «Ukroboronservice» was headed by Yevhen Hvozdarov, the former director of «Stream Techno» LLC—the developer of the well-known «Vampire» drones, which generated over 15.5 billion UAH from classified procurements within a year. The appointment of the new chief coincided with the scrubbing of the supplier company’s data from public state registries, raising critical questions regarding the transparency of personnel decisions within the defense industrial complex.
According to data from specialized registries, prior to 2022, Yevhen Hvozdarov had no background or experience in high tech, aviation, or the military-industrial complex. The newly appointed head of the strategic state enterprise previously held managerial positions in companies specializing in concrete production and was registered as an independent entrepreneur (FOP) dealing in real estate rentals.
Despite lacking a specialized background, Hvozdarov later took the helm at «Stream Techno» LLC. This entity is the official trademark owner and manufacturer of the Ukrainian «Vampire» drones. In 2025, the company became one of the state’s largest contractors, securing over 15.5 billion UAH through classified defense procurement contracts.
Journalists noted that the process of Hvozdarov’s appointment to «Ukroboronservice» was accompanied by a strict restriction on data access. Information regarding «Stream Techno» LLC was promptly removed from public state registries, effectively blocking public civilian oversight of how these budget funds are utilized.
Furthermore, investigators point to a potential web of connections linking the UAV manufacturer to big business and government officials:
«Stream Techno» LLC is reportedly linked to Oleksandr Konotopskyi, the owner of the prominent international security systems company Ajax Systems. In business circles, Konotopskyi himself is widely believed to have close ties to the current Minister of Defense, Mykhailo Fedorov.
Amid these developments, analysts highlighted another notable trend. Throughout 2025, the primary legal entities comprising Oleksandr Konotopskyi’s Ajax Systems shifted their jurisdiction. The large-scale technology business was quietly re-registered from Ukraine to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The editorial board is currently preparing official inquiries to the Ministry of Defense and SE «Ukroboronservice» to investigate potential conflicts of interest regarding these leadership appointments and the allocation of state funds for drone production in Ukraine.