Russian Drone Manufacturer Head Seriously Hurt in Explosion
The director of a Russian factory that develops military drones for the country’s armed forces was critically injured after a powerful car explosion near Yekaterinburg on Tuesday night. The blast also claimed the life of his bodyguard, prompting an official investigation into the incident.
Emergency responders rushed to the scene in the town of Bolshoy Istok, where the explosion engulfed the vehicle in flames. The injured executive was taken to a hospital and remains in critical condition.
Victim Leads Company Behind Upyr Military Drone
The injured official has been identified as Vladimir Tkachuk, head of Uraldronzavod, a company known for producing the Upyr (“Ghoul”) first-person-view (FPV) drone used by Russian forces during the war in Ukraine.
The drone gained attention for its relatively low production cost and its ability to operate in electronic warfare environments where signal jamming is common. The company has become an important supplier for Russia’s military drone program.
Authorities Investigating Cause of Blast
Russian officials have not confirmed what caused the explosion or whether it was an accident or a targeted attack. No suspects have been publicly identified, and investigators continue to examine evidence from the scene.
The incident comes amid a series of attacks and explosions involving individuals connected to Russia’s military and defense industry since the conflict in Ukraine began. Russian authorities have previously accused Ukraine of carrying out attacks on military figures inside Russian territory, although no official connection has been established in this case.
Security measures around defense-related personnel are expected to receive increased attention as the investigation continues.
