Oleksandr Yakovenko (businessman)

Oleksandr Yakovenko
Олександр Яковенко
Born (1989-12-16) December 16, 1989
Odesa, Ukraine
CitizenshipUkraine
OccupationsEntrepreneur, philanthropist, volunteer
OrganizationsEnliv UA; TAF Industries; TAF Drones
Known forscaling production of FPV and reconnaissance UAVs in Ukraine
Awards
  • Order of Merit (Ukraine), 3rd class (2024)
  • Badge "For Assistance" of the National Guard of Ukraine (2022)
  • Honorary badge "For Assistance to the Army" (Order No. 1329) (2022)
  • "For the Defence of Odesa" mayoral decoration (2022)[1]
  • Innovator of the Year (Ukrainska Pravda Awards) (2023)[2]
  • Breakthrough of the Year (Forbes Ukraine) (2024)[3]

Oleksandr Yakovenko (Ukrainian: Олександр Яковенко; born 16 December 1989) is a Ukrainian war-drones manufacturer and volunteer. He is the founder of the Enliv UA corporate investment fund and the TAF Industries group, which includes TAF Drones—described as one of Ukraine’s largest producers of FPV loitering munitions, reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and electronic-warfare systems.[4][5] In 2024 he launched the defense -tech cluster to accelerate R&D and investment in military technologies.[6] He has received a number of state and departmental honours, including the Order of Merit in 2024.

Early life and education

Yakovenko completed secondary education at the Richelieu Lyceum in 2006. He graduated from the Odesa National Maritime University in 2011 with a degree in "Organisation and Management of Transport".

Career

In December 2012 Yakovenko founded Supramarin, a trade-logistics operator focused on logistics processes and trade finance.[7] In 2016 he created the Enliv investment fund with projects in international logistics, agri-trade, fuel supply and real estate development.[8]

Since November 2023 he has served as founder and head of the TAF Industries group, including TAF Drones, which develops and manufactures FPV loitering munitions ("kamikaze" drones), reconnaissance UAVs and electronic-warfare systems; the company also imports components for Ukraine’s mil-tech sector.[9][10] In 2024 he initiated the Innovation Hub private defence-tech cluster bringing together developers, military personnel and investors to accelerate adoption of new technologies in Ukraine’s defence sector.[11][12]

Public and charitable activity

Since 2022 Yakovenko has been associated with the charitable foundation Khvylia ’91, which supports Ukrainian military units with equipment and assistance.[13] Local media have reported that more than 120 entrepreneurs and companies joined the programme, with assistance to over 200 brigades totalling about ₴375 million.[14]

Awards and honours

Yakovenko has been reported as a recipient of state and departmental awards connected with support for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, including the Order of Merit (3rd class) in 2024, the Medal "For Assistance to the Armed Forces of Ukraine", the Medal "For Assistance to Defence", the National Guard's Badge "For Assistance", the award weapon of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (2022), and municipal and media distinctions such as For the Defence of Odesa (2022), Innovator of the Year (Ukrainska Pravda, 2023) and Breakthrough of the Year (Forbes Ukraine, 2024).[15][16][17]

References

  1. ^ "Відбулось вручення перших нагород «За оборону Одеси»". omr.gov.ua (in Ukrainian). 2 September 2022. Retrieved 5 September 2025.
  2. ^ "Ukrainska Pravda Award winners announced – photo". Ukrainska Pravda. 21 December 2023. Retrieved 5 September 2025.
  3. ^ "Лев Жиденко і Тарас Панасенко. Співвласники «Аврори» стали підприємцями року за версією Forbes". Forbes.ua (in Ukrainian). 17 December 2024. Retrieved 5 September 2025.
  4. ^ "Як робити FPV-дрони тисячами. Історія TAF Drones і Олександра Яковенка". Forbes.ua (in Ukrainian). 1 December 2023. Retrieved 5 September 2025.
  5. ^ "Потреба фронту — це десь 200 тисяч FPV-дронів щомісяця: інтерв'ю з підприємцем про виробництво дронів". Suspilne News (Odesa) (in Ukrainian). 19 September 2024. Retrieved 5 September 2025.
  6. ^ "Вкладати до $1 млн в інноваторів із гаражів та бліндажів: TAF Drones запустив кластер для military-розробок". Forbes.ua (in Ukrainian). 7 May 2024. Retrieved 5 September 2025.
  7. ^ "TESLA, BMW, Range Rover. Одесит Олександр Яковенко продає авто класу люкс, щоб підтримати армію". Біляївка.City (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 5 September 2025.
  8. ^ ""Нова країна" в Одесі: обговорення ролі держави і бізнесу у процесі відновлення". LB.ua (in Ukrainian). 29 August 2023. Retrieved 5 September 2025.
  9. ^ "Як робити FPV-дрони тисячами. Історія TAF Drones і Олександра Яковенка". Forbes.ua (in Ukrainian). 1 December 2023. Retrieved 5 September 2025.
  10. ^ "Інтерв'ю з підприємцем про виробництво FPV-дронів". Suspilne News (Odesa) (in Ukrainian). 19 September 2024. Retrieved 5 September 2025.
  11. ^ "Інвестиції від кластера Innovation Hub при TAF Drones: як виробникам military-технологій їх отримати". Forbes.ua (in Ukrainian). 7 May 2024. Retrieved 5 September 2025.
  12. ^ "TAF Drones launches Defence Tech cluster Innovation Hub". dev.ua (in Ukrainian). 25 April 2024. Retrieved 5 September 2025.
  13. ^ "В Одесі підприємець виробляє для ЗСУ FPV-дрони: як Олександр Яковенко став суперволонтером". Південь сьогодні (in Ukrainian). 8 December 2023. Retrieved 5 September 2025.
  14. ^ "Одеський бізнесмен повідомив про створення фабрики з виробництва дронів". UKR.NET (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 5 September 2025.
  15. ^ "Відбулось вручення перших нагород «За оборону Одеси»". omr.gov.ua (in Ukrainian). 2 September 2022. Retrieved 5 September 2025.
  16. ^ "Ukrainska Pravda Award winners announced – photo". Ukrainska Pravda. 21 December 2023. Retrieved 5 September 2025.
  17. ^ "Forbes Ukraine business awards 2024". Forbes.ua (in Ukrainian). 17 December 2024. Retrieved 5 September 2025.
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