Nordic VCs back Ukraine's Vluchnyk as drone interceptor maker eyes European ventures
What's the deal? Ukrainian defence tech startup VluchnykDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → has raised early-stage venture capital from Sweden's Hede Capital PartnersDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → and Denmark's SkylenDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →. The company builds counter-drone interceptors and is preparing to launch international joint ventures across Europe.
What does it do? Founded by Platon Presich and Stepan Radiboh, Vluchnyk grew from an FPV drone assembly workshop into a dedicated maker of point air defence systems. It registered as a company in 2024 and now employs up to 15 people.
The product: Its flagship Zorelit v4 interceptor targets Shahed loitering munitions, hitting a top speed of 348 km/h with roughly 25 minutes of endurance. Priced between $800 and $2,200 per unit, it is deployed across up to 10 frontline units after securing its first military contract in December 2025.
Why now? Russian forces are shifting from piston-engine Shaheds to faster jet-powered drones. Vluchnyk is finalising a next-generation platform, the Zorelit v6, built to exceed 400 km/h and operate at altitudes up to 5km, priced at around $1,950.
Where it's expanding: The startup plans to set up joint ventures in Europe, licensing its combat-tested designs for local production. The move follows growing pressure on European defence planners to source counter-drone hardware that can be manufactured at scale within the region.
The signal: Low-altitude airspace defence has moved from a niche battlefield problem to an industrial procurement priority. Nordic capital flowing into a Ukrainian interceptor maker signals a cross-border model in which frontline-tested hardware is exported and produced locally across Europe.
Read more: techukraine.org
Image credit: steve_lodefink
