The Fin The market darling, the $50 million share dump and the silent CEO
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Nov 26, 2025 Jonathan Shapiro, a Senior Reporter at the Australian Financial Review, dives into the recent turmoil surrounding DroneShield and its CEO, Oleg Vornik. The episode explores Vornik's shocking $50 million share dump and the resulting fallout, including a nearly 30% drop in stock prices. Shapiro details how the Ukraine war fueled demand for DroneShield's innovative counter-drone technology, but now investor confidence is shaken. He emphasizes the urgent need for the company to restore trust and improve governance to regain its market credibility.
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From Maths Whiz To Company Face
- Oleg Vornik rose from refugee and Maths Olympiad competitor to CFO then CEO of DroneShield.
- He passionately marketed the company's counter-drone tech and became the public face of the story.
Radio Jamming Is Powerful But Limited
- DroneShield's core tech detects radio links and disrupts them to disable drones.
- That approach works well for comms-linked drones but faces limits as autonomy rises.
US Contract Was A Validation Moment
- A $33m US government order in mid-2023 validated DroneShield's technology and business model.
- That contract transformed market perception and drew sustained investor attention.