Vladimir Tkachuk is critically injured after a car bomb explosion near Ekaterinburg targets the Uraldronzavod drone factory founder.
Vladimir Tkachuk, the founder of the private drone manufacturer Uraldronzavod, was hospitalized in critical condition following a car bomb explosion near Ekaterinburg on Tuesday. The explosion, which occurred in Bolshoy Istok, left Tkachuk's Mercedes severely charred and killed his bodyguard. Tkachuk is known for developing the Upyr drone, a low-cost first-person view kamikaze drone widely used by Russian forces in the Ukraine war. Russian authorities have not officially identified the culprit, but Ukraine is likely to be blamed for the attack. The bombing follows a series of clandestine operations by Ukraine inside Russian territory, including a recent deadly bombing at an upscale Moscow restaurant. These attacks demonstrate Ukraine's ability to conduct effective operations deep within Russia, highlighting the pressure on Russia's internal security apparatus to protect its senior officials and pro-war figures. Tkachuk, who has been sanctioned by Western governments, has also founded a popular pro-war Telegram channel with over 500,000 followers.