There is a hint of pride in Oleg Vornik's voice when he confides that, about six months ago, he was named on Russia's sanctions list. The Sydneybased entrepreneur, who was born in Russia, sounds as if he couldn't be happier. The Australian/US artificial intelligence company, DroneShield, of which he is chief executive, sells hi-tech systems to detect, track and take down attack drones, including those flying over Ukraine.
“We are in the business of stopping drone attacks,” he explains. “We are purely defensive. We don't do anything offensive. None of our equipment, or anything we do, can harm a person or a drone. Our equipment safely lands them on the spot or sends them back. That's the choice of the users of our equipment.”