Valerii Borovyk
Founder and CEO, First Contact
He founded First Contact, maker of the Osa drones likely used in Operation Spiderweb, and says such strikes need sophisticated drones, not cheap $500 FPVs.
- Born
- Not published
- Now
- Founder and CEO, First Contact
- Studied
- No degree listed
Interesting facts
- Before AI
Worked in senior oil and gas roles and won the UAE's Masdar prize in alternative energy before turning to drones.
itarena.ua - First
Says his team released Ukraine's first kamikaze drone, the Yatagan, in 2015 and put it forward for military procurement.
uatv.ua - Detour
When Russia's full-scale invasion began in 2022 he was serving in a National Guard special forces company, and went on to command a strike drone unit.
uatv.ua - Turning point
Says preparation for Operation Spiderweb began 18 months ahead, first for a strike in Moscow, with pilots trained to fly out of narrow windows.
english.nv.ua - Numbers
Says his company prepared 150 drones for Spiderweb and believes 117 hit their targets; Ukraine's security service put the damage at $7 billion.
english.nv.ua - In their words
Described a drone steered over enemy SIM cards as a flying cellphone with propellers and a warhead.
english.nv.ua
Career
- Ukrainian militaryCommander, Special strike drone unit2022–2024
- First ContactFounder and CEOfrom 2014
- Alliance New Energy of UkraineChairman of the Board