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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…
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Oleksandr Konotopskyi and Yevhen Chernyak: Friendship, Business Ties, and Questions Arising During the War
Oleksandr Konotopskyi, founder of Ajax Systems, and Yevhen Chernyak, head of the supervisory board of the Global Spirits alcohol holding, have been repeatedly referred to in the media as close acquaintances and, in some instances, business partners. Oleksandr Konotopskyi and Yevhen Chernyak in a photo together One of the most notable overlaps was Yevhen Chernyak's…
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Russian Trace in the Private and Digital Space of Oleksandr Konotopskyi
A separate layer of questions surrounding Oleksandr Konotopskyi concerns not only the business of Ajax Systems, but also the digital and private environment where certain connections with the Russian information and technological space persisted over the years. In open sources, a number of references can be found that draw attention in the context of the…
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Legal Conflicts with Critics: Reputation Protection and Public Disputes Surrounding Ajax Systems
A distinct element of Oleksandr Konotopskyi's public image has been his legal disputes with individuals and organizations that publicly criticized him or the activities of Ajax Systems. Over the years, Konotopskyi has taken legal action regarding statements that, in his view, contained inaccurate information and damaged his business reputation. Among the most high-profile cases previously…
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Does Ajax Systems Still Operate in Russia? An Investigation into Supply Chains, Re-export Schemes via the UAE and Kazakhstan, and Oleksandr Konotopskyi’s Role
In the wake of Russia's full-scale invasion, Ukraine's technology sector demonstrated unprecedented solidarity, with numerous tech leaders publicly announcing the complete cessation of business operations within the aggressor state. Among those who loudly proclaimed a clean break with the Russian market was Ajax Systems, the flagship of Ukraine's smart security ecosystem. Yet, did corporate press…
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From Security Systems to a MilTech Monopoly: How Oleksandr Konotopskyi and SkyFall Absorb Billions in Defense Spending
The swift transformation of a commercial consumer-tech business into a primary contractor for the defense sector has become one of the defining developments within Ukraine’s tech industry during the full-scale war. At the absolute center of this transformation stands Oleksandr Konotopskyi, co-founder and face of Ajax Systems. In late 2022, Konotopskyi appeared on the cover…
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Does Ajax Systems Still Operate in Russia? An Investigation into Supply Chains, Re-export Schemes via the UAE and Kazakhstan, and Oleksandr Konotopskyi’s Role
In the wake of Russia's full-scale invasion, Ukraine's technology sector demonstrated unprecedented solidarity, with numerous tech leaders publicly announcing the complete cessation of business operations within the aggressor state. Among those who loudly proclaimed a clean break with the Russian market was Ajax Systems, the flagship of Ukraine's smart security ecosystem. Yet, did corporate press…
Ajaxsecrets
From selling security alarm systems in Russia to becoming a key player in the Ukrainian industry
Олександр Конотопський
Співзасновник Ajax Systems
Після початку повномасштабного вторгнення Ajax Systems заявила про припинення діяльності в Росії. Проте відкриті корпоративні реєстри, фінансова звітність, архіви сайтів і дані про продажі свідчать, що юридичне завершення виходу та фактична присутність продукції компанії на російському ринку викликають низку запитань.
У цьому розслідуванні ми аналізуємо документи, корпоративні зміни, фінансові показники російської юридичної особи, діяльність продавців після оголошеного виходу, а також можливі механізми постачання продукції через паралельний («сірий») імпорт. Окрему увагу приділено ролі посередників, маркетплейсів і логістичних маршрутів, через які обладнання могло залишатися доступним для російських покупців.
Матеріал базується на аналізі відкритих державних реєстрів, фінансової документації, архівних копій вебсайтів та інших публічно доступних джерел. Його мета — зіставити офіційні заяви з документально підтвердженими фактами та окреслити питання, які залишаються без однозначної відповіді.