Russian Billionaire and Efko Executives Detained in Drone Fraud Case

Russian billionaire Valery Kustov, executives from his company Efko, and a government official have been detained in a fraud investigation involving drone production. Those detained include Efko general director Evgeny Lyashenko and managers Ekaterina Kustova and Vladislav Romantsev. Former top manager Yuri Kozarenko was also arrested earlier this year. The Ministry of Industry and Trade confirmed the detention of Alla Polovchenya, who serves as the deputy head of its department of unmanned systems and robotics.

The case involves a venture called Future Transport, which operates a production plant in Tolyatti that President Vladimir Putin visited in January 2025. While official details on damages are not yet public, some reports indicate suspects may have purchased drones from China and passed them off as proprietary Russian technology. Efko has expressed support for its employees and urged against speculation.

Coverage with a center right lean notes that President Putin has identified the increase of drone production as a top priority in the war with Ukraine. Coverage with a center left lean includes comments from an economic observer and analysts who suggest the case could lead to the nationalization of Efko, which is one of Russia's largest producers of sunflower oil.