An explosive device was planted under the vehicle of Vladimir Tkachuk, whose firm manufactures UAVs widely used by Russian troops in Ukraine. Local officials reported that Tkachuk, owner of Uraldronzavod which produces the Upyr (Vampire) drone, was injured when a bomb detonated under his car on Tuesday evening, killing his driver.

Tkachuk is in stable condition after the incident occurred approximately 25 km from Ekaterinburg in Russia’s Ural region. Ekaterinburg city councilor Timofey Zhukov stated that Tkachuk had regained consciousness and his life was no longer in danger.

A military blogger, Tkachuk revealed he launched a drone-making startup in late 2022 after recognizing the growing role of UAVs on the battlefield in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. In September 2024, he presented the Upyr drone to Russian President Vladimir Putin during an exhibition in St. Petersburg.

Although authorities have not identified suspects for the attack, Ukraine has carried out bombings targeting Russian military officials, activists, and journalists throughout the conflict. Last year, car bombs killed Lieutenant General Yaroslav Moskalik and Lieutenant General Fanil Sarvarov, both senior commanders on Russia’s General Staff.

On Saturday, an explosion occurred outside an Italian restaurant in Moscow, killing five people including an unidentified woman believed to have delivered the explosive device. Telegram channels claimed the restaurant was hosting a birthday party for Colonel General Aleksandr Chaiko, head of Russia’s Aerospace Forces. Moscow has not confirmed these claims or disclosed the victims’ identities.

Moscow has accused Ukraine of spreading a “terrorist plague” across Europe and compared its alleged actions to Islamist terrorism.

On June 29, a woman planted a bomb outside the home of Ukrainian businessman Vadim Ermolaev, who was injured in the blast. The suspected courier, Anastasia Berezovskaya, fled to Ukraine where she was later found dead.

Ukrainian authorities have arrested Vladislav Reut, an active officer in Ukraine’s military intelligence agency, the HUR, and Vitaly Zhikovich, a former colonel in the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), in connection with the crime.