Dorozvidka #59: More Drone Deals, mid-strike drones in Nemesis, plus Viktoriia Yaremchuk, Helsing and Swarmer

In the latest Dorozvidka:

• Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine is working on defence agreements with 20 countries;
• Viktoriia Yaremchuk, CEO of Farsight Vision, appeared on the Rockets and Radars podcast;
• Forbes analysed why Swarmer shares have dropped 40% in a month;
• Defense News covered the global popularity of Ukrainian interceptor drones;
• How the 412 Nemesis Brigade destroys Russian air defence systems with midstrike drones;
• FT: Helsing to raise a new funding round at an $18 billion valuation.

Volodymyr Zelensky: Ukraine is working on defence agreements with around 20 countries

On 11 May, Zelensky met with National Security and Defence Council Secretary Rustem Umerov, who briefed him on defence agreements currently being negotiated with foreign partners.

“Rustem also provided a detailed update on contacts with countries interested in Drone Deals with Ukraine. Around 20 countries are currently involved at various stages: four agreements have already been signed, and the first contracts are being prepared under them. With other countries, preparatory procedures for political agreements are ongoing, paving the way for business cooperation,” Zelensky said.

He also noted that, in addition to the Middle East, the South Caucasus and Europe, Ukraine will soon launch a new security cooperation framework under Drone Deals with another region of the world.

Forbes analyses why Swarmer shares have fallen 40% in a month

Ukrainian Forbes recalls that the Nasdaq debut of Ukrainian defence startup Swarmer in March 2026 became the year’s most successful IPO. However, by mid-May the company’s shares had nearly halved in value. The publication analyses the reasons behind the pullback.

Read more. 

Viktoriia Yaremchuk on the Rockets and Radars podcast

The co-founder and CEO of Ukrainian-Estonian company Farsight Vision joined the English-language podcast Rockets and Radars. In the two-hour conversation, she shares insights into building and selling products in defence tech: how Farsight Vision actually operates, how to sell to military customers without a traditional sales cycle, what it takes to build and manage a team when the mission has no defined deadline, and what Europe still fails to understand about the war on its doorstep.

Defense News on the global popularity of Ukrainian interceptor drones

Defense News published a feature on the rise of low-cost interceptor drones, particularly Ukrainian-made systems. Their international popularity surged after Middle Eastern countries were forced to shoot down cheap Iranian Shahed drones using Patriot missiles costing millions of dollars each.

The article covers Ukrainian interceptor drones as well as foreign systems tested in combat in Ukraine. Among the commentators is Stanislav Hryshyn, co-founder of General Cherry.

Read more. 

How the 412 Nemesis Brigade destroys Russian air defence systems with midstrike drones

Ukrainian outlet Oboronka reports on midstrike drones, which have become a major threat to Russian air defence and logistics. These UAVs can strike critical enemy targets and equipment deep behind the front line.

Pavlo Laktionov, deputy commander of the 412 Nemesis Brigade, explained how these systems are evolving and why they may soon change the rules of warfare.

Read more. 

FT: Helsing to raise funding at an $18 billion valuation

According to the Financial Times, German defence unicorn Helsing is raising a new investment round. The company aims to secure $1.2 billion at an $18 billion valuation, potentially making it one of Europe’s most valuable startups.

The round is expected to be led by Dragoneer Investment Group and Lightspeed Venture Partners. FT reports that the deal is in its final stage, although the exact signing timeline remains unclear.

Helsing’s product portfolio includes HX-2 strike drones supplied to Ukraine. Last year, the company announced a contract for 6,000 such systems, funded by the German government.

Read more.