It began with a vision – a vision that floated like a pizza delivery drone and stung like a Siberian combat drone model. What was once sold as a harmless idea – a civilian project delivering packages and monitoring fields – has become a deadly truth on the bloody battlefields of Ukraine. Russia’s drone industry, which presents itself as a beacon of technological progress, is in reality a shadow realm of war. A billion-dollar market built on lies, deception, and the blood of others.
In 2023, the “Center for Urban Air Mobility Management” (UAMOC) – a tech initiative founded by Moscow – promised a future where drones would deliver groceries and packages to people’s doorsteps. Andrey Anikin, the deputy CEO, boasted of partnerships with supermarkets like VkusVill and Russian Post. But while Anikin lured investors with these cyberpunk visions, UAMOC grew into a titan of Russia’s drone industry – not on the streets of Moscow, but over the battlefields of Ukraine.
Behind the civilian facade, behind the marketing promises and the glossy brochures of the “Moscow Innovation Cluster” (MIC), hides an army of the skies. UAMOC massively invested in companies like Harpyia, Sibiryachok, and Bumerang – firms that manufacture drones for the Russian military. Factories in occupied territories like Luhansk became training grounds for drone pilots preparing for combat.
Russia’s drone industry has boomed since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. What began as garage startups has grown into an empire with annual revenues of at least 130 billion rubles ($1.6 billion). More than 200 billion rubles ($2.4 billion) have been invested in production. Companies like Omnitreid and UAMOC, founded less than three years ago, are now among the country’s top-grossing drone manufacturers.
But the secret of their success is a dirty one. These companies, which present themselves as “centers for urban mobility” and “technology startups,” are nothing more than military weapons manufacturers developing deadly technologies. UAMOC and its partners produce drones specifically designed for use against Ukrainian forces – drones built using Chinese components.
China: The Invisible Lifeline of Russian Drones
While Russia has almost completely halted the import of ready-made drones from China, the import of drone components like motors, batteries, and control systems has exploded. The total value of imported UAV parts has tripled to $500 million. Rustakt, a leading manufacturer, imported nearly 40 billion rubles ($494 million) worth of Chinese drone components between 2023 and 2025 – a record.
Without China, Russia’s drone industry would collapse immediately. Most of the drones flying over Ukraine’s battlefields today are powered by Chinese technology. And that is no coincidence. Russia uses loopholes and third countries like Kazakhstan to bypass sanctions and maintain access to Chinese components.
From Civilian to Military – The Disguise of Drone Manufacturers
Many of Russia’s largest drone companies present themselves as civilian technology providers. They talk about agricultural drones, drones for environmental monitoring, package delivery drones, and telecom inspection drones. But this mask quickly falls when you look behind the scenes.
Sibir and Sibiryachok: These companies, which officially manufacture drones for civilian purposes, actually supply their products directly to the Russian army. Their drones are deployed at the front.
UAMOC: The former “urban mobility initiative” is now a network of military drone factories developing, producing, and training drones for combat.
Rustakt: The largest drone manufacturer, whose models like the “VT-40” (also known as “Sudoplatov”) are regularly used on Ukraine’s battlefields.
War as Business – Russian Drone Companies and Their Profits
The companies producing these war drones are not idealists. They are the war profiteers of the modern era, hiding their blood business behind a facade of innovation. The revenues of the leading firms in Russia’s drone industry speak for themselves. Omnitreid, a component specialist, achieved a turnover of $514.2 million in 2024 – and that in less than two years since its founding. AG-Logistik, another company that entered the drone market, recorded revenues of $167.29 million in the same period. UAMOC, a company presenting itself as a “manufacturer and management company,” generated $150.55 million in revenue in just two and a half years. Atlant Aero, a provider of unmanned aerial vehicles, reached $74.67 million in less than one and a half years. These are names that seem harmless at first glance. But behind the logos and brand names lie deadly technologies whose sole purpose is war.
Russia’s drone industry is a prime example of the Kremlin’s strategy of using civilian technologies for military purposes. The Moscow Innovation Cluster (MIC), which officially serves as a platform for startups and technology promotion, is, in reality, a military arm. Companies like UAMOC use this platform to disguise themselves as civilian actors while actually producing drones for war.
An Empire on Fragile Foundations
Despite its rapid growth and billion-dollar revenues, Russia’s drone industry is extremely vulnerable. Its heart – the Chinese components – is its Achilles’ heel. If China were to stop exporting miniature electric motors or other key parts, Russia’s drone production would come to a standstill. The powerful war machine Putin has built would collapse without Chinese support.
But as long as China delivers, Russia’s drone industry will continue to grow – and with it, the list of victims. A web of deception and death, disguised as future technology. A billion-dollar market that thrives on war.
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