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3 clusters · 68 sources · 7 days · First seen about 2 months ago · Last updated about 2 months ago

Attacks on Russian drone industry leaders

Overview

The wave of assaults on Russia’s drone sector continued in late July and early August 2026. On the night of 28–29 July, Andrei Cherezov, founder and director of the Russian Air Transport Laboratory (RLVT), was shot multiple times as he opened his apartment door in Tula. He was taken to hospital in a critical but stable condition. RLVT produces the “Ovod” combat drones used by Russian forces and had recently secured a state contract worth about 30 million ruble for drone kits and control systems.

On 5 August, a car bomb placed under the Mercedes of Vladimir Tkachuk, chief executive of the sanctioned drone maker Uraldronzavod, detonated near the village of Bolshoy Istok outside Yekaterinburg. The explosion killed his driver, identified as his bodyguard, and left Tkachuk seriously wounded; doctors are fighting to keep him alive in intensive care. Uraldronzavod produces the cheap first‑person‑view “Upyr” drones—also referred to as “Ghoul”—widely used by Russian forces in Ukraine. Tkachuk also runs the pro‑war Telegram channel “Obsessed with War,” followed by more than 500 000 users. Russian authorities have opened a criminal investigation, treating the incident as an attempted assassination, but the perpetrators remain unknown. The attacks underscore a growing pattern of targeted violence against figures linked to Russia’s drone industry.

Entities

European Union · Russian military · Bolshoy Istok · Obsessed with War · Russian Investigative Committee

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 28 SOURCES] Vladimir Tkachuk was injured in the car explosion.
[● 28 SOURCES] The driver of the car was killed in the explosion.
[● 28 SOURCES] The explosion is being investigated as an attempted assassination.
[● 28 SOURCES] Uraldronzavod manufactures Upyr FPV drones used by the Russian military in Ukraine.
[● 28 SOURCES] Uraldronzavod is under European and U.S. sanctions.
[● 28 SOURCES] The explosion occurred in Bolshoy Istok, a village near Yekaterinburg.
[● 28 SOURCES] The incident took place on 5 August 2026.
[● 13 SOURCES] Vladimir Tkachuk runs the pro‑war Telegram channel “Obsessed with War”, which has over 500 000 followers.
[● 8 SOURCES] Andrei Cherezov was shot multiple times.
[● 8 SOURCES] The shooting occurred on the night of 28–29 July 2026.
[● 4 SOURCES] He was hospitalized in critical condition.
[● 4 SOURCES] RLVT manufactures the “Ovod” drones used by the Russian military in Ukraine.
[● 4 SOURCES] The EU placed RLVT on its sanctions list because of its role in the war.
[● 4 SOURCES] Russian authorities are searching for the shooter.
[● 2 SOURCES] The attacker opened fire as Cherezov opened his apartment door.
[● 2 SOURCES] RLVT secured state contracts worth about 30 million ruble for drone kits and control systems.

Timeline

about 2 months ago

[CRIME] 57 sources
Vladimir Tkachuk, Uraldronzavod chief, critically injured in car bomb near Yekaterinburg
Vladimir Tkachuk, head of Uraldronzavod, was critically injured and his driver killed when a car bomb exploded near Yekaterinburg on 5 Aug 2026; the incident is under investigation as an attempted assassination
about 2 months ago

[CRIME] 10 sources
Andrei Cherezov shot in Tula in attempted assassination
Andrei Cherezov, head of Russia's RLVT drone firm, was shot in Tula on 28‑29 July 2026; he is in critical condition and Russian police are hunting the unknown attacker.
about 2 months ago

[CRIME] 2 sources
Russian drone manufacturer owner shot south of Moscow
A drone‑manufacturer owner was shot in a residential stairwell south of Moscow; an attempted murder case is underway.

Sources

15min.lt · 25horas.com.ar · acvila30.ro · armyweb.cz · bigportal.ba · cafef.vn · cancan.ro · ceskenoviny.cz · clubz.bg · dailymail.co.uk · dailystar.co.uk · echo24.cz · elespectador.com · epochtimestr.com · erzsebetter.hu · fakt.pl · finanznachrichten.de · gandul.info · gazetedamga.com.tr · hvg.hu · index.hr · infokuryr.cz · it-boltwise.de · karpataljalap.net · koktejl.azet.sk · krmg.com · larazon.es · lavanguardia.com · lawforall.co.za · lubicsszilvi.webnode.hu · m.soha.vn · mirror.co.uk · news.yam.md · nezavislamedia.cz · okamura.blog.idnes.cz · pelop.gr · plusinfo.mk · polityka.co.pl · radioh.no · rador.ro · real.gr · realitatea.md · realitatea.net · respublika.lt · rmf24.pl · sambadenglish.com · sapo.pt · seleo.gr

This summary has been updated 20 times: see revision history