Russian Drone Chief Wounded in Blast

PHOTO CAPTION: FILE PHOTO: Vladimir Tkachuk, co-founder of the Uraldronzavod, demonstrates a drone to Russian President Vladimir Putin at a drone production facility of the Special Technology Centre in Saint Petersburg, Russia September 19, 2024. Sputnik/Valery Sharifulin/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

Aug. 5 — The head of a Russian drone manufacturer was seriously wounded and his driver killed when an explosion destroyed their car near Yekaterinburg, Russian media reported Wednesday.

State news agency TASS cited an emergency-services source as saying Vladimir Tkachuk, head of Uraldronzavod, was in intensive care and doctors were fighting to save his life. A Russian war blogger said the attack occurred Tuesday, though details emerged a day later.

Mash, a Russian outlet with sources in law enforcement and the security services, reported that an explosive device had been placed beneath Tkachuk’s Mercedes. The driver, described in some reports as Tkachuk’s bodyguard, died at the scene.

Company produces battlefield drones

Uraldronzavod manufactures “Vampire” first-person-view drones, which are controlled by operators wearing goggles connected to a live video feed. Russian forces have used the drones extensively on the front lines in Ukraine.

Tkachuk also operated a popular Telegram channel called “Obsessed with War,” which collected money for the Russian military.

The Yekaterinburg news outlet e1.ru reported that Tkachuk had demonstrated the Vampire drone to senior officials, including President Vladimir Putin and Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council.

Latest attack involving Russian weapons figures

Russia has accused Ukraine of carrying out previous assassinations targeting senior military officers and people connected to Moscow’s war effort. Ukraine has claimed responsibility for some attacks and denied involvement in others.

Kyiv did not immediately comment on the explosion involving Tkachuk.

It was the second attack on a Russian drone developer in one week. On July 30, Andrei Cherezov, who developed a drone model called the “Gadfly,” was shot and wounded by an unidentified attacker.

Drones have become a dominant weapon in the war, now midway through its fifth year.

News of the car bombing emerged shortly after Putin appointed a commander to lead Russia’s newly established Unmanned Systems Forces.

(Source: Reuters)