Vladimir Tkachuk, the head of the Uraldronzavod plant responsible for producing Upyr drones, is fighting for his life after a car explosion in Yekaterinburg.
The driver of the vehicle reportedly died in the blast, according to Kommersant, citing unnamed sources.
The incident marks a significant escalation in the targeting of key figures within Russia's defense manufacturing sector.
Uraldronzavod is a critical node in the production of unmanned aerial systems used in the ongoing conflict, making its leadership a high-value target for sabotage or assassination attempts.
This development follows a series of strikes on Russian infrastructure and military assets.
Recent reports have highlighted drone attacks on a major oil refinery in southern Russia and incidents involving explosive drones in occupied territories, indicating a broadening scope of operations against logistical and production hubs.