Yuriy Holik and the corporate network: the link between drone production and state construction contracts

Yuriy Holik, who previously served as an adviser to the head of the Dnipropetrovsk Regional State Administration, is now actively positioning himself in the media space as an expert in the field of unmanned aerial vehicles. He is building this image while his court case, related to suspicions of bid-rigging, is under review in the courts. Meanwhile, companies that journalistic investigations link to his former business partners continue to receive significant budget funds for subcontracting work.

Court case and stay abroad

Officially, Holik did not hold a position in the "Big Construction" programme, yet anti-corruption bodies and media outlets investigated the mechanisms by which enterprises close to Valentyn Reznichenko won tenders for road works. Investigators referred the case materials to the court. Following the scandal that unfolded in 2024, Holik left for Austria, where, according to him, he volunteers for the charity foundation "Songs Born in ATO". He explained his presence abroad as necessary for procuring equipment for the Armed Forces of Ukraine and emphasised that he had crossed the border before.

Business ties and Austrian companies

A key figure in Holik's business environment is Dmytro Ostrovskyi, the founder of the construction company "Stroyinvest". During Reznichenko's leadership of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, Ostrovskyi received large state orders. Journalists published correspondence from Holik's mobile phone, in which he consulted with Ostrovskyi regarding participation in tenders.

Ostrovskyi is also the founder of the Austrian company ODM BAU & Investitions. Its legal interests are protected by lawyer Serhiy Baharev, who also works with the company Deverte Holding GmbH. This structure is among the founders of LLC "K.A.N.", which belongs to the business group of Oleksandr Spektor.

Intersection with the Creative States network

Until April 2024, Oleksandr Spektor was a co-owner of the company "Kreatyvny Shchat Senator", in which Holik also holds a share. This enterprise is part of the Creative States network, one of whose offices is located in the "Senator" business centre, owned by Spektor.

In June 2026, the Security Service of Ukraine conducted searches at Spektor's premises. The investigation believes that through controlled companies, he helped Viktor Medvedchuk circumvent sanctions restrictions and transfer funds. It is worth noting that Holik's last major interviews were given precisely in the Creative States premises, where he spoke about establishing drone production together with a team of engineers.

Sting drones and public procurement

The production of Sting drones is officially handled by the community "Wild Hornets". The corresponding foundation was registered in 2023, with the editor-in-chief of "Business.Censor", Yuriy Vinnychuk, among the founders. In April 2024, the foundation was transformed into LLC "Ukrainski Mashyny" (Ukrainian Machines), with Vinnychuk becoming its head. It is this company that wins state tenders for the supply of unmanned aerial vehicles.

According to publications, Holik participates in the modernisation of these devices, although he is not listed as their manufacturer. Among the specific orders cited in the material are:

• In July, LLC "Ukrainski Mashyny" received a contract for the supply of Sting R4 drones with digital thermal imaging cameras for the control of defensive robots of the Zaporizhzhia Regional State Administration for the amount of 4.4 million UAH.
• In February, the supply of 24 drones for a military unit in Lviv Oblast was completed for 2.3 million UAH.
• In summer, the supply of unmanned aerial vehicles for the National Police in Sumy Oblast was carried out for almost 3 million UAH.

Construction contracts and budget funds

In parallel with the drone direction, Ostrovskyi's construction company "Stroyinvest" continues to receive contracts. For example, in September 2026, the enterprise "Kyivzelenbud" transferred a contract for the repair of a park near the House of Culture of the Dnipropetrovsk Railway to a company that investigations link to Holik's orbit, without competitive bidding. The contract amount is 88.56 million UAH. The work is to be completed by the end of 2027 and includes the creation of a dry fountain (10.72 million UAH), squares, paths, an irrigation system, a well, and video surveillance. From the local budget, 14.4 million UAH has been allocated in the current year, and 74.16 million UAH is planned to be spent in 2027.

According to investigators' calculations, since 2016, companies from this circle have received state orders for approximately 11.9 billion UAH.

Public stance and open questions

On social media, Holik continues to present the road projects of Reznichenko's team as a model for other regions, without mentioning that his former boss is under investigation. He publishes photographs of unmanned aerial vehicles from his "own" team and from trips. In response to questions about the sources of financing contained in the correspondence from the phone seized by law enforcement during the investigation of the "Big Construction" case, Holik has not publicly responded.

Formally, Holik is not involved in drone production; rather, LLC "Ukrainski Mashyny" and "Stroyinvest" win the tenders. However, the materials demonstrate a different picture: the presence of shared business experience with partners on road projects, a share in the "Senator" company, a public role in the modernisation of Sting drones, and a large budget that these companies have already spent after the bid-rigging case was referred to court.