Russian drone factory CEO critically injured in Yekaterinburg car explosion

Vladimir Tkachuk, director and CEO of UralDronZavod, a Russian drone manufacturer, was severely injured in a car explosion in Bolshoy Istok, a suburb near Yekaterinburg in the Sverdlovsk region, on August 4, 2026. His security guard, who was driving the vehicle, was killed in the blast. Tkachuk remains in intensive care in critical condition, with medical staff fighting for his life.

UralDronZavod, which Tkachuk founded in 2023, manufactures the Upyr drone—a first-person-view unmanned aerial vehicle used by Russian forces. The company produces a full lineup of drone systems, from compact models to heavy-lift multicopters and fixed-wing variants. Tkachuk has publicly promoted his drones through media appearances and presentations to Russian officials, describing them as a "popular" project and highlighting their effectiveness against Western armor.

Russian emergency services opened a criminal investigation under Article 105, Part 2, Paragraph "e" of the Russian Criminal Code, which pertains to murder committed in a manner dangerous to the public. Authorities have not publicly disclosed details about the cause of the explosion or named any suspected perpetrators. A Russian local news outlet, citing emergency services sources, reported that the explosion involved explosives planted under the vehicle's chassis and attributed the attack to Ukrainian intelligence, though no official confirmation has been provided.

The incident follows an attempted assassination of Andrey Cherezov, chief designer of the Ovod drone series, in Tula one week earlier. The explosion also occurs amid reports of other attacks on Russian military and defense industry figures in recent months. Russian authorities have previously blamed Ukraine for similar incidents, while Ukraine has not claimed responsibility for any specific attacks.