Drone manufacturer for the Russian army seriously wounded in car explosion
Vladimir Tkachev, head of the factory producing 'Upyr' FPV drones, was seriously wounded in a car bombing in the Sverdlovsk region. His driver was killed. The incident is the latest in a series of attacks targeting senior figures in the Russian defense industry.
In Russia, doctors continue to fight for the life of Vladimir Tkachev, manager of a factory supplying drones to the Russian army. He was seriously wounded the day before yesterday in a car explosion; his driver was killed on the spot. The incident appears to be an assassination attempt and joins a series of previous attacks on senior figures in the drone industry, which has become central to the war in Ukraine.
The explosion occurred late Tuesday evening in Bolshoy Istok, near Yekaterinburg. Tkachev headed the 'UralDroneZavod' factory, which produces 'Upyr' FPV drones. These aircraft, operated via goggles, have gained widespread use at the front due to their resistance to electronic warfare measures.
In September 2024, Tkachev was documented presenting his models to Russian President Vladimir Putin at an exhibition in St. Petersburg. He also managed the 'Obsessed with War' Telegram channel, which raised funds for the army and has over 650,000 followers. According to messages on the channel, Tkachev is in intensive care and his condition is stable following the attempt on his life.
According to the media outlet Mash, Tkachev's Mercedes was destroyed by an explosive device planted underneath it. Just a week ago, on July 30, Andrey Cherzov, head of the 'Air Transport Laboratory' which produces 'Ovod' drones, was shot and wounded in Tula. He was attacked while returning home.
Against this backdrop, the German newspaper 'Die Zeit' reported that Russian intelligence services planned to target Stephan Thoma, head of the German drone company 'Quantum-Systems'. According to investigators, the plot was uncovered thanks to intelligence from foreign partners, leading to the arrest of two suspects. Previously, in 2024, US intelligence reportedly thwarted a Russian plot to assassinate Armin Papperger, CEO of the arms manufacturer 'Rheinmetall'.
The situation is further complicated by an incident at Leipzig airport, where an explosive drone was discovered near the runway. This led to a partial shutdown of the airport and the diversion of flights. European authorities have noted an increase in activity by Russian agents attempting to penetrate EU airspace and carry out acts of sabotage.
