Russia has released two new propaganda videos showcasing its growing drone warfare capabilities—both focused on the Geran-2 suicide drones, the Russian version of Iran’s Shahed-136. The videos, aired by Russian state media on 14 July, offer a chilling look into Moscow’s drone production and deployment—and signal a shift toward mass-scale aerial warfare.

The timing of the videos coincides with a sharp escalation in Russia’s drone attacks on Ukraine. On 9 July, Moscow launched its largest single-day aerial barrage of the war, firing 741 drones and missiles in one night.

Analysts now warn that Russia may soon be capable of launching 1,000 to 2,000 drones per day, aiming to saturate Ukraine’s air defences and wear down Western military support. The strategy is simple: overwhelm with volume, exploit cost asymmetry, and stretch Ukrainian and NATO resources to the breaking point.

Inside an underground drone factory

The first video, broadcast via Zvezda, takes viewers inside the Yelabuga factory in Tatarstan. Located more than 1,300 km from Ukraine, the facility reportedly produces over 5,000 Geran‑2s a month, with 18,000 built in the first half of 2025.

Satellite imagery and facility layout suggest large sections of the plant are underground, enhancing its resilience to long-range Ukrainian strikes. The video highlights on‑site foundries, assembly lines, electronics shops—all sealed beneath reinforced structures.

Ukrainian drone strikes: Deep and determined

Despite its distance from the front lines, Yelabuga has been repeatedly targeted by Ukrainian drones:

• April 2024: Strikes injured 12 people; fires were reported in a dormitory.
• May–June 2025: Additional attacks, including one that killed a worker, prompted limited local damage.

Yet, despite the assaults, production appears largely unaffected, with officials insisting the plant continues to operate “stably.”

Mobile launches from US-made trucks

The second video reveals drones launched from Dodge Ram 1500 pickup trucks—vehicles that seem American-made and potentially obtained in violation of Western sanctions. This mobile launcher method signals a shift toward faster, more flexible deployment and increased launch density.

A costly war of attrition

Geran‑2 drones are designed for long-range strikes:

• Length: 3.5 m
• Wingspan: 2.5 m
• Weight: ~200 kg
• Warhead: 50 kg
• Range: Up to 1,800 km
• Speed: Up to 300 km/h

Despite their relatively low cost—$35,000–$50,000—they place significant strain on Ukrainian defences. A single Patriot interceptor, by contrast, costs over $5 million.

Ukraine reported this week that it had shot down its 30,000th Shahed drone, based on serial number analysis of drone fragments.

Why it matters

• First video reveals industrial-scale drone manufacturing, likely underground, resilient to attack.
• Second video highlights mobile, adaptive launch tactics using Western vehicles.

Together, they underscore a clear message: Russia is not just sustaining its drone campaign—it is scaling it.

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Editor's Note: June 15: This article has been updated to include confirmation of the attack from Ukrainian authorities.

Ukraine allegedly launched drones at Russia’s Tatarstan region, killing one and injuring 13, regional governor Rustam Minnikhanov reported on June 15.

The Ukrainian drones were reportedly shot down, but the debris fell on a plant in the town of Yelabuga, where Russian Shahed-type attack drones are manufactured, causing a fire.

According to Minnikhanov, it was an automobile plant, but some Telegram channels, including Astra, speculate that the well-known drone factory was the target.

Ukraine's General Staff subsequently confirmed details of the strike, including that it was directed at Shahed-style drone production in Yelabuga.

“Despite the attempt to sow fear and panic, all enterprises and life support facilities in the republic are operating stably. Emergency services are on constant alert,” said Minnikhanov.

A video of the attack was shared on Telegram, showing smoke billowing over the town, which lies some 1,500 kilometers from Kyiv.  There has been no official statement from Kyiv on the alleged strike, and the Kyiv Independent could not independently verify these claims.

The so-called Alabuga Special Economic Zone hosts a factory producing Shahed-type long-range attack drones as well as other reconnaissance drones, and has been repeatedly targeted by Ukrainian forces since its launch in 2022.

The factory aims to produce 6,000 Shahed-type drones a year, with each one estimated to cost as little as $20,000.

Last year, Ukraine confirmed attacking military facilities in Tatarstan at least twice with long-distance drone strikes. Most recently, Ukrainian drones reportedly struck the plant on May 25.

Facing a workforce problem, the factory began recruiting African women under false pretences via a work-study program. As a result, Interpol began an investigation into the company in April for human trafficking.

Russian strike hit Boeing office in Kyiv in deliberate attack on US business, FT reports

“This is not just an attack against Ukraine, but also an attack where American business is being hit,” said Andy Hunder, President of the American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine.

The Kyiv IndependentDominic Culverwell