# Targeting of drone industry leadership

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/targeting-of-drone-industry-leadership
> Updated: 2026-08-20T23:45:47.000Z. Sources: 2. Developments: 2.

A pattern of targeting drone industry leadership has emerged in connection to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. In late July and early August 2026, Russian drone executives were targeted, including an assassination attempt in Tula against Andrei Cherezov and a car bombing near Yekaterinburg on August 4 that injured Uraldronzavod head Vladimir Tkachuk.

Intelligence operations have also extended to European suppliers. German authorities arrested suspected operatives for spying on a Bavarian drone manufacturer, while Stefan Thumann, CEO of the German startup Donaustahl, has been living in hiding following warnings from German intelligence. Reports indicate an alleged Russian plot involving the nerve agent Novichok aimed at Thumann, who supplies combat drones to Ukraine. Thumann has described the situation as a “struggle for my life with Russian intelligence.”

## Timeline

### 2026-08-20: Stefan Thumann, CEO of drone supplier Donaustahl, targeted in alleged Russian assassination plot

German drone supplier CEO Stefan Thumann is living in hiding following an alleged Russian assassination plot involving Novichok, according to German officials and intelligence warnings.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/stefan-thumann-ceo-of-drone-supplier-donaustahl-targeted-in-alleged-russian-assassination-plot

### 2026-08-09: Drone industry leaders targeted in Russia-Ukraine conflict escalation

The Russia-Ukraine war is expanding to target drone technology leaders, including a car bombing of a Russian drone manufacturer's head and an assassination attempt on another executive.

9 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/atlanta-man-faces-felony-charge-over-phone-data-wipe-during-cbp-inspection

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Cite as: Targeting of drone industry leadership. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/targeting-of-drone-industry-leadership