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The claims of two companies from Gjilan, "Future Minds Academy" and "Miga Skyshield", that the "Skifteri K1" suicide drone is their product, were accompanied by reactions and doubts in public opinion.
Suspicions were raised after, in early January, the leaders of these companies posted a video on social media, which, according to them, depicted "the moment of testing this military drone, striking a specific object on the territory of another country."
The Kosovo Ministry of Defense told the media in Pristina at the time that "there is no information about the production, permit and testing process of the drone."
A few days later, the same media reported that the video was from a Chinese company and that part of it was generated with artificial intelligence (AI).
The location where the two companies claim to produce military and civilian drones was visited in November last year by the acting Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti.
Kurti told reporters on January 30 that he cannot know all the details of the companies he visits and added that he is "open to listening to criticism when something is not as it was presented to him."
Suspicions that the "Skifteri K1" drone was a hoax were denied by the director of "Future Minds Academy", who in his Facebook post called them "media propaganda".
The head of another company, "Miga Skyshield", which says it was engaged in the production of drones, Muahmet Ajrullahu, refused to comment on the suspicions raised in the media and by politicians, when contacted by REL.
The Democratic Party of Kosovo requested an institutional investigation into this case.
Besa Kabashi-Ramaj, a candidate for MP from this party, which was in the opposition in the previous legislature, said that the incumbent Prime Minister, Kurti, publicly deceived, promoting something false, which, according to her, constitutes a security problem.
The leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo, Ramush Haradinaj, said that "the scandal with photos and videos of Kurti with the imaginary drone is just one of hundreds of cases of revealing the true face of this government."
Radio Free Europe requested clarification on the situation from the Ministry of Defense and a response from the Prosecutor's Office on whether this case constitutes a criminal offense or whether it is engaged in investigations, but, as of the publication of this article, it had not received a response.
In the Criminal Code of Kosovo, Article 323, fraud is defined as a criminal offense.
According to this article, anyone who falsely presents facts, conceals them or deceives, with the aim of obtaining money or causing material damage to another, or causes someone to perform or not perform an act, thereby causing them to incur an illegal loss or gain, may be punished with a fine and imprisonment from 3 months to 5 years.
However, this article does not specifically provide for public fraud in cases where it is not accompanied by financial gain or material damage.
According to data from the Kosovo Business Registration Agency (KBRA), both of these companies that claim to be engaged in drone production were registered in 2025.
"Future Minds Academy" is listed with two employees and a capital of one thousand euros, while the description of the activity states educational activities.
The company "Miga Skyshield" appears in the ARBK with one employee and capital of 750 thousand euros, while its activity is described as the production of combat machinery for the army.
Last year, Kosovo purchased thousands of Skydagger and Bayraktar drones from Turkey.
Authorities presented this purchase as a step towards strengthening the country's defense capabilities, while NATO warned that any air activity must be coordinated with its mission in Kosovo, KFOR.
That same year, Kosovo also received a fleet of drones purchased from the United States.
Defense Ministry officials have previously confirmed to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty that arms purchases are mainly made by NATO allies, including Germany, Turkey, and the US.
The budget of the Ministry of Defense, meanwhile, has seen a continuous increase - from 153 million euros in 2024 to 207.8 million euros in 2025.
Acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti has announced that the first ammunition factory in Kosovo will be built in Jahoc, Gjakova, while the first production is expected to start at the end of 2026./REL
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