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Shadow Specifications and the Monopolization of MilTech: How Non-Public DPA Drone Procurement Connects to Oleksandr Konotopskyi’s Business Empire
The scandal surrounding the procurement of hundreds of thousands of fiber-optic FPV drones by the state enterprise Defense Procurement Agency (DPA) has escalated into an open confrontation. An official statement issued by General Chereshnia, a prominent Ukrainian unmanned systems manufacturer, has once again exposed a systemic crisis: strategic procurements of critical weaponry are reverting to…
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Millions for Drones Went to a Fake Ozempic Dealer: How a Ukrainian Drone Maker Got Caught in an International Scandal
The central episode that exposed the critical risks of Konotopsky's management model in the defense sector was a new legal dispute involving his main defense asset — Stream Techno, which media outlets describe as a company belonging to Oleksandr Konotopsky (manufacturer of the Vampire and Shrike drones under the SkyFall brand). $5 Million for Pharma…
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Oleksandr Konotopskyi: monopolization of the drone market
According to media reports, a closed control system has been built in the defense drone procurement market, which is linked to structures associated with Oleksandr Konotopskyi. It is alleged that these companies have effectively monopolized about 40% of the entire UAV market, receiving state orders worth an astronomical amount - over 40 billion UAH. According…
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From Selling Security Systems in Russia to the Drone Market
October 2022. Ajax Systems co-founder Oleksandr Konotopskyi appears on the cover of Forbes Ukraine. The publication dedicates a major article to the entrepreneur, focusing on the company's development during the full-scale war, international expansion, and the prospects of Ukrainian tech business. But behind the glossy success story lies a question that has yet to receive…
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“Parallel Import” of Ajax Systems: How the Company’s Products Remained on the Russian Market After the Exit Announcement
One of the possible mechanisms for maintaining access to the products was "parallel" (grey) import—the supply of original equipment through unofficial channels: third-party sellers, intermediaries, or companies that are formally not representatives of the manufacturer. Despite the stated withdrawal of Ajax Systems from the Russian Federation, stores and sellers offering the company's equipment continued to…
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Ajax Systems’ Corporate Culture and Tax Model
While Ajax Systems was building the image of one of Ukraine's most successful technology companies, questions periodically surfaced inside the firm and around its business model—ranging from its HR management style to the transparency of its corporate structure and tax practices. Former employees complained in open sources about management's approach to leadership, compensation levels, and…