Russia targets Ukrainian infrastructure and expands drone production

Russia is intensifying its military and economic pressure on Ukraine through expanded drone production and targeted strikes on critical infrastructure. Plans from the state-owned company Rosatom indicate an expansion of the Alabuga-Volokno factory in Tatarstan. This expansion aims to increase the production of high-quality carbon fiber, which could enable the manufacture of up to 28,000 additional combat drones annually by 2029.

Simultaneously, Russian forces are targeting Ukraine’s logistics and industrial sectors. Attacks on jet-powered drones have increasingly struck passenger trains, aiming to disrupt military logistics and civilian movement. Since the 2022 invasion, over 500 locomotives have been damaged or destroyed, with Ukrainian railways losing approximately 37 to 40 locomotives per month.

The Ukrainian steel industry has also faced severe disruption. Recent Russian ballistic missile strikes have forced the shutdown of three major steel plants—Zaporizhstal, Kamet Steel, and ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih—which together accounted for roughly 90 percent of the country’s steel production. These attacks have caused significant casualties among workers and extensive damage to industrial and energy infrastructure.