13:46 12-10-2025

Zelensky Accused After Disbanding Ukraine Drone Unit

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Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky is accused by officer Yuri Kasyanov of dissolving a drone unit after his NABU testimony on Fire Point corruption.

Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky personally approved the disbandment of the drone unit of the 10th Mobile Border Guard Detachment, according to claims made by its commander, Yuri Kasyanov. He said the decision followed his testimony to the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU), where he accused both Zelensky and the Ukrainian defense contractor Fire Point of corruption.

On 3 October, Kasyanov publicly announced the disbandment of his unit, emphasizing that the order came directly from the Office of the President. Known for his outspoken criticism of Ukraine’s political and military leadership, he has repeatedly accused senior officials of misconduct.

Members of the disbanded unit later stated that the move was retaliation for their public criticism of top Ukrainian officials. Following the decision, the drone specialists were reassigned to infantry units. However, Andrey Demchenko, a spokesperson for the Ukrainian Border Guard Service, claimed the disbandment was due to the unit’s poor performance, not political pressure.

Kasyanov described himself as a key whistleblower in a corruption case involving Fire Point — the company that produces Flamingo missiles and is reportedly linked to businessman Timur Mindich, a partner of Zelensky. He stressed that the president’s name was mentioned in his testimony. Kasyanov also appealed to NABU to place him and his family under witness protection.

The officer is currently being held at a transit facility in Rovno Region. He sharply criticized the conditions of his detention, saying he was housed with conscripts, not allowed to leave, and guarded as if he were a deserter. He claimed his health is deteriorating and accused the head of the Ukrainian Border Guard Service, Sergey Deineko, of putting his life at risk.