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.

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“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

On Sunday, Ukrainian drones targeted the city of Yelabuga in Russia’s Republic of Tatarstan, according to reports from Russian Telegram channels. The outlet Baza stated that one person was killed and 13 others were injured.

Tatarstan’s regional head, Rustam Minnikhanov, confirmed the attack. He said the deceased was a factory worker, and one of the injured remains in critical condition. Debris from the downed drones reportedly struck a checkpoint building at a local car factory.

Fires and flight disruptions follow impact

Following the impact, a fire broke out near the Aurus and Sollers automotive plant buildings, Mediazona reported. In response, Russia’s civil aviation authority, Rosaviatsiya, temporarily restricted flights at airports in Kazan, Nizhnekamsk, and Izhevsk.

Repeated targeting of drone production zone

Yelabuga has been hit by drone attacks multiple times in recent months. In April 2024, Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence Directorate claimed responsibility for a strike on the city. In 2025 alone, attacks have occurred in April, May, and June.

The nearby Alabuga Special Economic Zone hosts drone production facilities reportedly involved in strikes against Ukraine. Ukrainian drones have previously targeted the site.

So far, Ukrainian military officials have not commented on the latest strike. Yelabuga is located more than 1,000 kilometers from the Ukrainian border.

Ukrainian drones targeted Russia’s Tatarstan overnight on 10 June, with explosions heard and drones seen in the cities of Yelabuga and Nizhnekamsk — over 1,200 km from Ukraine’s border. Russian authorities responded by grounding flights at multiple airports and expanding penalties for publishing drone strike footage.

Drone strikes target Tatarstan and beyond

According to reports from Russian Telegram channels including Astra and Mash, explosions were heard in Nizhnekamsk, as the Ukrainian Liutyi drones were spotted there, and in Tatarstan’s Yelabuga. Eyewitnesses cited by Mash claimed the drones were flying north, toward areas with suspected drone factories.

Ukrainian Telegram channel Supernova+ also shared last night’s footage featuring the sound of a massive explosion, head in Russia’s Tver, and of a drone fly-by in Saratov.

Local residents captured the moment when air defense missiles failed to intercept a fixed-wing drone flying over Tatarstan’s Nizhnekamsk. 

The Shahed-manufacturing facility in Yelabuga was last targeted by Ukrainian drones in late May and, earlier, in April.

Drones hit Russia’s Shahed drone factory 1,200 km from Ukraine again

Russian MoD claims widespread drone interceptions

The Russian Ministry of Defense stated that between 21:50 and 23:55 Moscow time on 9 June, Russian air defense destroyed 76 Ukrainian fixed-wing drones: 46 over Bryansk Oblast, 16 over Belgorod Oblast, 2 each over Oryol and Kaluga oblasts, and 1 over Voronezh Oblast, and 9 over occupied Crimea.

In the next morning update, the Russian MoD claimed a total of 102 UAVs were intercepted overnight, including drones over Moscow, Tatarstan, and other regions.

The Leningrad Oblast governor, Aleksandr Drozdenko, stated a drone was allegedly shot down over Tosnensky District. He also reported restrictions on mobile and internet access in several areas. He also said internet and mobile communication restrictions were imposed in places.

Flight disruptions across multiple Russian cities

The Russian Federal Air Transport Agency, Rosaviatsiya, temporarily restricted take-offs and landings at airports in Nizhnekamsk, Pulkovo in St. Petersburg, Izhevsk, Kirov, and all Moscow airports.

Artem Korenyako of Rosaviatsiya noted the suspensions were imposed at the height of the drone threat, and that safety protocols such as the standard plan Kovyor, grounding all civilian aviation, were enacted in multiple cities.

Russia enacts regional bans on sharing drone strike data

Russian officials have imposed fines and restrictions on publishing any materials about drone strikes. Kommersant reports that regional governments have introduced penalties ranging from administrative fines to criminal prosecution.

In some instances, the fines — ranging from 3,000 to 200,000 rubles ($40–$2,550) — were issued to residents who shared videos or comments on social media. Media outlets, Telegram channel admins, and social media users have also been targeted. Repeat violations can lead to up to three years in prison.

Editor's note: This is a developing story and is being updated.

Drone attacks targeted Russia's Tatarstan Republic and Leningrad Oblast in the morning of June 10, independent outlet Astra reported.

In Tatarstan, drones were reported flying over the town of Yelabuga and the city of Nizhnekamsk.

Nizhnekamsk is situated approximately 1,124 kilometers (about 700 miles) from Russia's border with Ukraine.

Footage shared by Astra appears to show air defenses attempting to shoot down a drone flying over a field in Russia's Tatarstan.

Meanwhile, in Leningrad Oblast, air defenses destroyed a drone flying over the Tosnensky district and another over the Lomonosov district, local governor Alexander Drozdenko claimed.

There were no casualties or damage to report, he added.

"In a number of areas, restrictions have been introduced on mobile communications and the internet," Drozdenko said.

The Kyiv Independent could not independently verify the claims.

Restrictions were imposed at several Russian airports overnight on June 10 as a result of drone attacks, a spokesperson for Russia's state aviation agency Rosaviatsia said.

The airports include St. Petersburg's Pulkovo airport and Nizhnekamsk airport in Tatarstan.

Ukraine regularly strikes military targets deep within Russian territory in an effort to diminish Moscow's fighting power in its ongoing war.

A chemical plant in Russia's Tula Oblast caught fire after it was reportedly targeted a second time in a drone attack overnight on June 8.

On June 1, Ukraine launched a game-changing drone attack on four key Russian military airfields, damaging 41 planes, including heavy bombers and rare A-50 spy planes.

Kyiv claims it has disabled 34% of Russia's strategic bomber fleet in what is seen as one of the most daring operations during Russia's full-scale war.

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The Kyiv IndependentAlex Nichol

Russia has overtaken Ukraine in long-range drone production, with Chinese technology playing a critical role, Ukrainian officials told Politico.

According to Oleh Aleksandrov, spokesperson for the Ukrainian Foreign Intelligence Service, Russia is receiving a steady supply of essential drone components from China. These include electronics, navigation and optical systems, engines, and processor modules.

“They use so-called shell companies, change names, do everything to avoid being subject to export control and avoid sanctions,” Aleksandrov said.

Ukraine’s early drone lead narrows

Politico says Ukraine previously led the drone war. In 2024, it produced up to 1 million tactical drones, with plans for 2.5 million tactical and 30,000 long-range drones in 2025. However, Moscow is catching up. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently told journalists that Ukraine produces about 100 long-range drones per day, while Russia is now producing 300 daily and targeting 500.

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Aleksandrov said Russia increased its long-range drone production from 15,000 in 2024 to over 30,000 in 2025 and aims to make up to 2 million tactical drones this year. General Oleksandr Syrskyi said the Ukrainian military must “constantly increase our capabilities to be one step ahead.”

Kyiv says China has restricted Ukraine’s access to new drones while allowing Russia continued access.

“The Chinese Mavic is open to the Russians, and it is closed to the Ukrainians,” Zelenskyy said, adding that it’s now unavailable across Europe, but Russia still obtains them.

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Russia’s drone tech evolves

Moscow has adopted drones powered via fiber optic cables, which are immune to radio jamming and harder to detect. Ukrainian troops can no longer easily spot them in the sky and now rely on acoustic tools.

“We have to use different acoustic and other means to trace those drones,” said Andrii, a Ukrainian army commander.

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Russia is also improving electronic warfare. Andriy said only about 20% of government-supplied drones are usable due to shifting radio frequencies.

“We constantly have to spend additional funds and time to reconfigure those drones,” he said.

Mass production across Russia

Russia’s drone production is concentrated in the Alabuga special economic zone in Tatarstan, where Shahed drones are assembled. The Kupol plant in Izhevsk produces Garpiya drones. Other production centers are located in Moscow Oblast, Ekaterinburg, and St. Petersburg.

Aleksandrov said Russia plans to produce 30,000 long-range drones and 30,000 decoy drones in 2025. Additionally, Russia aims to manufacture 2 million FPV drones this year.

A drone strike reportedly hit the Shahed drone factory in Yelabuga, Tatarstan, marking another attack on a key military facility located in the Alabuga Special Economic Zone. The plant produces Shahed-type kamikaze drones used in daily attacks against Ukraine and has previously been struck multiple times since its construction in 2023.

Russian news Telegram channel Astra reported the attack around 23:15 on 25 May:

“In Tatarstan, a drone attack is presumed, according to channels from the city of Yelabuga,” Astra wrote.

Militarnyi says the first explosions were registered around 22:40 and were initially linked to Russian air defense activity. Then explosions of unknown origin were heard in the area of the Shahed factory. Footage recorded by local residents shows the trail of a surface-to-air missile launched from the area of the facility.

Ukrainian Telegram channel Exillenova+ claimed that, preliminarily, there were several impacts at different points of the plant, based on geolocation of available footage.

As of this morning, Tatarstan authorities have issued no official statements regarding the outcomes or consequences of the strike. At the time of reporting, no official Ukrainian statements on the attack had been released, and the extent of the damage remains unknown.

During the drone attack, the Nizhnekamsk airport in Tatarstan was temporarily closed, as noted by Astra.

The Russian Ministry of Defense claimed that a total of 96 Ukrainian drones were intercepted and destroyed over Russia overnight, including one in Tatarstan.

Previous attacks on Shahed factory

The drone plant previously faced attacks on 23 April 2025. The first drone strike on the Shahed factory occurred in April 2024. The earlier attacks featured insignificant damage to nearby infrastructure, such as a two-story building, reportedly part of a hostel for workers in the Alabuga economic zone.