Cherevko Vadim

Cherevko Vadim

Biography

2023: Detention

On December 18, 2023, it became known that law enforcement officers detained Vadim Cherevko, the founder of the Belarusian companies aOrion and United Vehicle Robotics, which are engaged in the creation of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). It is said that the man took part in the protests in 2020, and the security forces found narcotic substances at his home.

The aOrion group designs, develops and manufactures helicopter-type drones and specialized payloads for the commercial and public sectors. The first company of the group was founded in February 2017 in Belarus, and in 2021 the development of activities in the CIS and Western Europe began. It is argued that aOrion products and services are in demand in many industries, including power and utilities, transport infrastructure, telecommunications, geodesy and cartography, logistics and delivery, health care, public safety, etc.

In turn, United Vehicle Robotics, also formed in 2017, is engaged in the creation of fully autonomous cargo drones-helicopters, as well as the conversion of any models of manned helicopters into unmanned ones. In particular, in 2019, the company successfully re-equipped the Ka-26 civilian helicopter with a Combo drone with a lifting capacity of 1130 kg. It has become the most powerful civilian helicopter drone in the world.

Cherevko confirmed his participation in the protests in 2020, noting that he "made mistakes." According to him, marijuana was found at his home "in very small quantities." Cherevko said that he used the drug several times, which is "very bad." In addition, the founder of aOrion and United Vehicle Robotics noted that the companies were in talks with law enforcement about how drones could be operated and used.^[1]

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