The General Staff confirmed the strike on the plant in Russia, where Shaheds are produced
In the city of Yelabuga, in Russian Tatarstan, an attack on a drone factory was recorded, where in 2024 more than 6,000 Shaheds and Geraniums were manufactured. General Staff of the Armed Forces confirmed, that the object was affected.
“Units of the Unmanned Systems Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, in cooperation with other components of the Defense Forces, on April 23, 2025, fired at the production of attack UAVs (Gheran-2, Shahed type and others)”. – says the message of the General Staff.
The enterprise, located at a distance of 1,054 km from the border with Ukraine, has a production capacity of about 300 drones per day.
“The hit and explosions in the area of the target have been confirmed. At this time, it is known about the damage to the workshop of the final assembly of the UAV”, – added in the General Staff.
Five UAVs with a combat load of 250 kg hit the territory of Yelabuga. Eyewitnesses reported on the operation of air defense systems in the city. After the start of the attack, Rosaviatsia temporarily limited the operation of the airport in Kazan. The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation later announced that a Ukrainian drone was allegedly shot down over Tatarstan.
Andriy Kovalenko, head of the Center for Combating Disinformation, noted that last year, the factory in Yelabuz produced more than 6,000 “shakheds” and “geraniums”, as well as thousands of decoy drones. In 2025, Russia plans to produce 8,000 to 10,000 Shaheds and Geraniums annually and up to 15,000 decoy drones.
“Yelabuga in Tatarstan, where the Russians produce shakheds/geraniums and various blends, where they have increased production, somewhat loudly, and somewhat successfully in places.” – emphasized Kovalenko.
