# Attacks on Russian drone industry leaders > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/attacks-on-russian-drone-industry-leaders > Updated: 2026-08-05T11:12:08.000Z. Sources: 68. Developments: 3. 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. ## Claims - Vladimir Tkachuk was injured in the car explosion. (corroborated by 28 sources) - The driver of the car was killed in the explosion. (corroborated by 28 sources) - The explosion is being investigated as an attempted assassination. (corroborated by 28 sources) - Uraldronzavod manufactures Upyr FPV drones used by the Russian military in Ukraine. (corroborated by 28 sources) - Uraldronzavod is under European and U.S. sanctions. (corroborated by 28 sources) - The explosion occurred in Bolshoy Istok, a village near Yekaterinburg. (corroborated by 28 sources) - The incident took place on 5 August 2026. (corroborated by 28 sources) - Vladimir Tkachuk runs the pro‑war Telegram channel “Obsessed with War”, which has over 500 000 followers. (corroborated by 13 sources) - Andrei Cherezov was shot multiple times. (corroborated by 8 sources) - The shooting occurred on the night of 28–29 July 2026. (corroborated by 8 sources) - He was hospitalized in critical condition. (corroborated by 4 sources) - RLVT manufactures the “Ovod” drones used by the Russian military in Ukraine. (corroborated by 4 sources) - The EU placed RLVT on its sanctions list because of its role in the war. (corroborated by 4 sources) - Russian authorities are searching for the shooter. (corroborated by 4 sources) - The attacker opened fire as Cherezov opened his apartment door. (corroborated by 2 sources) - RLVT secured state contracts worth about 30 million ruble for drone kits and control systems. (corroborated by 2 sources) ## Timeline ### 2026-08-05: 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 57 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/vlanimir-tkatsuk-head-of-russias-uraldrone-factory-critically-injured-in-car-bomb-attack ### 2026-07-29: 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. 10 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/andrei-cherezov-head-of-russian-drone-maker-wounded-in-tula-shooting ### 2026-07-29: 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. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/russian-drone-manufacturer-owner-shot-south-of-moscow --- Cite as: Attacks on Russian drone industry leaders. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/attacks-on-russian-drone-industry-leaders