Russia Arrests Head of TulaDron UAV Development Center

Russia has detained Yevgeny Grigoryev, CEO of the Scientific and Production Center for Unmanned Aviation Systems TulaDron.

The Russian outlet Tula News reported the detention, citing sources familiar with the case.

Grigoryev was detained on August 14. A court later ordered him to remain in custody for two months. He is accused of large-scale fraud.

The TulaDron center was opened in late 2025 as part of Russia’s national Unmanned Aviation Systems project.

It served as a specialized cluster that helped third-party companies develop, design, and test unmanned aerial systems.

The center also provided infrastructure for testing aircraft developed by other companies. Its specialists tested new artificial intelligence systems, communications equipment, and onboard components for both multirotor drones and fixed-wing UAVs.

Tula Region Governor Dmitry Milyaev said more than RUB 1 billion had been invested in the center, including around RUB 700 million from the federal budget. The project was intended to make the Tula region one of Russia’s ten largest hubs for drone development and production.