"Impolite and bold": The drone creator revealed how Russians boasted about their weapons at IDEX 2025.

Russia at IDEX 2025

IDEX in Abu Dhabi is a very large exhibition; to put it in perspective, in 2025 there were over 206,000 visitors and 1,565 participants from 65 countries around the world. The exhibition takes place along the shores of the Persian Gulf, so the booths were located both on land and on water. Among other things, ships, boats, helicopters, and airplanes were showcased.

Igor Finyak noted that many representatives from Russia attended IDEX 2025, whom the Sky Assist team had not seen at events in Europe. They had a large booth and showcased various types of weaponry, ranging from tanks and ships to drones, radars, and electronics. Igor dedicated a critical post on Facebook to this, where he highlighted the Russian participants and their exhibits.

"Being at the same exhibition alongside Russians is very uncomfortable, but unfortunately, the current political situation has allowed them to be present in some places and showcase themselves. There were many Ukrainian companies, and we communicated among ourselves. Russians also walked around the exhibition, talking to others. So, all the supply markets presented at IDEX were accessible to them as well," he shared.

According to Igor Finyak, it is quite possible that participants at the event established contacts with Russians and will collaborate with them in the future. This is a concerning aspect, considering that components from other countries, even Europe, have been repeatedly found in downed Russian drones and missiles. IDEX provided Russia with even more opportunities to acquire products that could later be used against Ukraine. In particular, many Russian representatives visited the Iranian booth.

"I witnessed many instances where Russians were sitting at tables with representatives from European countries, negotiating component supplies. There are countries very friendly to Ukraine, such as Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia, which, in my opinion, will never sell anything to Russia. European countries try to avoid this, but China, the UAE, and some others prioritize money over their geopolitical stance," commented the representative from Ukraine.

Igor added that in Europe, where he frequently travels on business, there are noticeably fewer Russians now. However, in the United Arab Emirates, there are many, not just at the exhibition. Moreover, Russians typically behave very tactlessly and provocatively. This was the only negative impression of the IDEX 2025 exhibition.

A New Experience for Sky Assist

"This is a very large exhibition in terms of scale and space. Sky Assist participated for the first time, although we have considerable exhibition experience. At IDEX, we showcased our products that are already ready for use in combat conditions — the reconnaissance 'Sirko 2M' and the strike 'Sirko 5', which will soon also enter serial production," he shared.

According to Igor Finyak, the 'Sirko 2M' is already known to the Ukrainian army and is used by various units. It is a reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicle designed for reconnaissance and target acquisition in combat zones. The 'Sirko 5' is based on the same airframe as the 'Sirko 2', but the platform was modified with "minimal effort," installing different systems that help strike targets in a "kamikaze" mode. This can target both personnel and equipment, depending on the type of explosive device used.

The 'Sirko' drones are designed to be inexpensive and very easy to use. Their production is easily scalable, allowing for a large number of systems to be manufactured in a short time. This sets them apart from many other products in the same class, attracting the attention of foreigners who would also like to equip themselves with such tools.

"Right now, we have many technological innovations. We have made significant changes, and we are receiving positive feedback from the military regarding the use of our drones on the battlefield," says Igor.

In particular, fighters highlight the high maintainability of the 'Sirko' drone. Made from a special radio-transparent polymer and plastic, it is nearly invisible to the enemy while in operation, and if damaged, it can be easily repaired on the battlefield. An important advantage is its stable communication and powerful protection system against electronic warfare, which automatically detects jamming and changes frequencies. This allows the 'Sirko' to fly behind Russian lines and effectively carry out combat missions.

The Benefits of IDEX 2025 for Ukraine

At IDEX 2025, many technological solutions, equipment, electronics, and more were presented. Therefore, Sky Assist sought collaboration with foreign manufacturers to acquire the technologies needed to enhance its products. It is no secret that many components are not currently produced in Ukraine, such as cameras, flight controllers, and battery power elements.

"At such international exhibitions, we can exchange opinions, make certain orders, and learn about interesting solutions to ensure our devices are useful for the Ukrainian army. We had numerous contacts because our booth attracted the attention of foreigners from various countries, many of whom offered us collaboration. Ukraine is currently in the spotlight; many visitors expressed their support for us in the war and suggested various solutions that our design bureau is now studying and testing," reported the co-founder of Sky Assist.

Overall, the Ukrainian flag is now very recognized and prominent in the defense technology sector. When foreigners see representatives from Ukraine at the exhibition, they understand that the products are interesting and valuable, having been born during wartime and tested by the military. Therefore, Ukrainian weaponry greatly interests them.

"They themselves want to test it, to learn from our experience in warfare, because we are currently engaged in a technological war, where victory on the battlefield does not come from a massive number of tanks or other heavy weapons. Ukrainians are managing to hold back the enemy's invasion thanks to technology and an intellectual approach. Right now, Ukraine is truly number one in the world in terms of technology, and Sky Assist is not the least in this field, as we have many interesting technological solutions in development that we share with our foreign partners, but only within permissible limits to keep the best in Ukraine," Igor explained.

The Sky Assist team travels extensively to international exhibitions in the United Arab Emirates, Finland, France, Estonia, Latvia, and Poland, where they can showcase the 'Sirko' drones. People abroad are very interested in watching them, as these products are used in warfare and tested on the battlefield.

According to Igor Finyak's observations, many foreign companies are creating drones and have various products. It is easier for them to do this because governments provide support and funding even in the early stages of development. However, ready-made foreign equipment, despite its attractive appearance, is not as effective on the battlefield as Ukrainian products.

"In Ukraine, unfortunately, we do not have such support, meaning we carry out all our products and research at our own expense. These are very costly processes, requiring a lot of time and money," the developer added.