The United Engine Corporation (UEC) is a Russian company that manufactures and provides services for engines for military and civil aviation, space programs and the navy, as well as the oil and gas industry and energy sector. All this, of course, is for the needs of the Russian army. The production is part of the state corporation Rostec (the largest industrial company in Russia). Vadim Badekha is the CEO of UEC. Previously, he was a general director of the Ural Civil Aviation Plant (UZGA), which is a part of the state corporation Oboronprom. Despite his consistent support for Russia’s armed aggression against Ukraine, Badekha himself is still not sanctioned by the EU and US.
Since 2009, Badekha has been the CEO of UZGA and has held a number of senior positions in Russia. Under his leadership, the development strategy of the enterprise was implemented. At the end of the nineties, the business specialized almost exclusively in the repairing services of gas turbine engines for aircraft, helicopters and ground installations. Later on, the plant has evolved into a full-fledged aircraft manufacturer that designs and manufactures aircraft, components and systems for them. The company has become one of the leaders in the development and construction of unmanned aerial vehicles. The plant’s revenue grew from RUB 1.5 billion in 2008 to RUB 42 billion in 2022.
UEC, Badekha and a meeting with Putin
In May 2024, Vladimir Putin held a meeting on the development of the military-industrial complex. In particular, the president of Russia insisted that the army and defence sector have to intensify efforts to introduce and master “the latest weapons” and to be one step ahead of Ukraine.
After that, on May 25, Putin traveled to Korolyov (Moscow Oblast) to meet with Badekha and the leaders of other major military-industrial enterprises. The meeting was attended by Deputy Security Council Chairman Dmitry Medvedev, Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu, Defence Minister Andrei Belousov, and Industry and Trade Minister Anton Alikhanov. In addition to Badekha, the meeting was attended by some people whose ties to Kremlin have been investigated by Trap Aggressor. For example, CEO of Kamaz PJSC Sergey Kogogin and Head of Rostec Sergey Chemezov were among the participants. These days, Vadim Badekha’s company is actively looking for new employees.
Vadim Badekha’s family
Vadim’s ex-wife Ksenia runs private medical centers in the Moscow and Sverdlovsk regions.
Ksenia Badekha’s father is a well-known banker Vladimir Frolov, the former owner of one of the largest banks in the Sverdlovsk region, Severnaya Kazna, which went bankrupt in 2008 and was sold to Alfa-Bank. Vadim Badekha is still among Ksenia’s followers on her Vkontakte page.
