Phantom drones on paper: how fake imports cost Ukraine’s budget a billion dollars

• 21.08.2025 16:43

In 2025, Ukraine reported drone imports exceeding 1 billion dollars, though part of the equipment existed only on paper and never entered the country. Investigators identified 25 supplier companies and customs officials suspected of aiding these fictitious shipments, with the so-called “phantom” drones being cleared through multiple checkpoints at once.

The largest amount of likely fictitious drone imports during the mentioned period passed through the Volyn Customs. Eight companies are named among the importers. Most of them were registered in 2022-2023 and immediately became active participants in public procurement.

Among them is LLC «Poliprom Kontur» registered in Kharkiv. It allegedly purchased fictitious drones from the Chinese company Starnine Sales Limited. In the summer of 2024, the firm imported goods from the Chinese company, which turned out to be virtual reality glasses, through the Odesa Customs. During an inspection, it was revealed that the Ukrainian firm had improperly filled out the customs declaration to reduce the tax burden.

Another company, LLC «L and T Company», established in 2024, immediately began participating in public procurement for drone supplies, «winning tenders» worth over 214 million hryvnias. It is managed by Alla and Yaroslav Lykhodiy. The woman simultaneously works at «Bohdan-Auto-Kyiv», a company owned by the son of the former Deputy Head of the National Security and Defence Council, Oleh Hladkovskyi (Svynarchuk).

The Ukrainian company «ITG «Intek-Gaz»» is also suspected of fictitious importation of UAVs through the Volyn Customs. Although this company was established in 1993, it only began actively trading quadcopters in 2023. Prior to that, its participation in public procurement was mainly limited to providing pipeline inspection services. Previously, the wife of the People’s Deputy from «Servant of the People» Serhiy Kalchenko, Tetyana Honcharuk, worked at this company.

LLC «Vital Progres» imports drones through the Odesa and Volyn Customs via the Chinese company Optima Trade Limited. Last year, the firm imported auto parts from China, some of which bore the marking «Russia», which may indicate the goods originated from the aggressor country. However, the certificate of origin provided to Ukrainian customs officials listed the manufacturer as being from the PRC.

Phantom drones could have been transported across the customs border in Lviv region through several firms. For example, LLC «Bullet», established in February 2023. The total amount of its tender procurements is almost 645 million hryvnias. The company is a subject of a criminal investigation regarding the supply of UAVs to a military unit at inflated prices. It was established that officials embezzled 2.5 million hryvnias by purchasing drones at inflated prices through a supply chain involving «Oil Trans» and «Bullet».

The company «Kalheon» is also suspected of potentially importing drones that exist only on paper. The State Enterprise «Defense Procurement Agency» is suing this company for untimely delivery of goods for security and defense needs. The claim amount is nearly 32 million hryvnias. The lawsuit was reviewed in July 2025, and on August 1, «Kalheon» won a tender to supply quadcopters for the Defence Work Department of Zaporizhzhya Regional State Administration worth 42 million hryvnias.

An interesting situation has developed at the Odesa, Kyiv, and Chernivtsi Customs. Among the companies listed as potential suppliers of phantom drones, several imported goods through customs checkpoints in these regions. These include LLC «Pepper Star» (through Chernivtsi, Volyn, and Odesa), LLC «Lavra Group» (through Volyn and Chernivtsi), LLC «Senfidjo IND» (through Volyn and Odesa), LLC «Loyalhills Group» (through Volyn and Chernivtsi), and LLC «Export Master» (through Lviv and Kyiv).

Читайте ещё:Беспилотники парализовали работу порта «Оля» в Астраханской области

The companies were established in 2022-2023. They do not exhibit significant activity. However, on the export-import portal ImportGenius, there is information that, for example, «Pepper Star» imported goods from the Chinese ABSales Group Limited this year.