VChK-OGPU and Rucriminal.info discovered a top manager from the Pacific Fleet Directorate of the Federal Security Service (FSB) at Romion Group, a major manufacturer of military drones whose revenue has increased 217-fold since the start of the war. The business of this "Russian manufacturer" is based on purchasing Chinese drones with public funds, which are then shipped to Vladivostok, where Romion owner Roman Budyugin worked in port operations and where his top manager served. After repainting, the UAVs are passed off as Russian products from Romion Group. However, Romion simply does not have its own production facilities or even a full-time staff. This "business" allows the owner's family to live a luxurious life. Budyugin's 17-year-old stepson drives a 2024 Lamborghini Revuelto around Moscow.
In 2024, Romion Group reported revenue of 9.5 billion rubles (compared to 44 million rubles in 2022), and 7.4 billion rubles for 2025. Budyugin is its sole founder. He enjoys the high life and luxury cars. In particular, he drives a Bentley Flying Spur W12 in Moscow. He bought a 2024 Lamborghini Revuelto for his 17-year-old stepson, Georgy Bezzhovchy.
Budyugin's company is currently registered in Moscow on Zemledelchesky Lane. Romion Group's product declarations state that its production is located there. However, the listed address is home to an elite deluxe residential complex, and the basement space (397.9 square meters) is actually luxurious office apartments. There is no manufacturing there. Romion Group also owns real estate in the Moscow region – in the village of Chernaya Gryaz, the company owns a plot of land with buildings. However, this land is an abandoned building materials store and a small warehouse attached to it.
Meanwhile, over the past couple of years, the company has declared its "KOP-2" detection and suppression system, signal suppression and demodulation devices, the "Zastupnik" white noise generator, and other products. Romion Group's old website (now offline) stated that it also produced military UAVs. Specifically, Roman Budyugin's company developed and manufactured the "Valkyrie-35" attack drone. In 2023, it was reported that the drone carried a camera and two 82mm mortar rounds. It was claimed that Budyugin's company was "developing" a UAV version for 120mm mortar rounds.
Romion Group has 10 employees—clearly insufficient for the stated production volumes (over 5,000 units per month). According to leaked data, the company employs only one engineer, but several managers, drivers, and executives at various levels. Three of the top managers earn over 500,000 rubles per month: Roman Budyugin himself, as well as Ksenia Brila, head of the commercial department, and Mikhail Gubanov, project manager. These are Budyugin's fellow countrymen and close associates.
Mikhail Gubanov hails from Primorsky Krai. Until at least 2023, he was listed as a legal adviser to several local companies involved in logistics and cargo transportation. In 2018-2019, he also received a salary from the Khabarovsk Krai government. Gubanov's phone numbers list him as "Sledak," "Gubanov Misha Sled Susk Ind," and "Gubanov Misha 4th Division." According to leaked data, he served in military unit 51264—the FSB Directorate for the Pacific Fleet (based in Vladivostok). Gubanov has a specialized education: in the early 2000s, he graduated from the Khabarovsk Border Institute of the FSB.
As for the owner of Romion Group, Roman Budyugin, in the 2000s, he headed the administration of VOSTOCHNY LESNOY PORT LLC (VLT) in Nakhodka. In the early 2000s, the company was integrated into the network of Vostochny Port OJSC, which was linked to Alexey Mordashov's Severstal.
According to a VChK-OGPU source, thanks to his "port" capabilities and connections with the local FSB, Budyugin smuggles (privately) UAVs and various jamming systems from China. They undergo minimal processing and are sold under government contracts as "unique" products from the Russian manufacturer Romion Group.
