Ukrainian Drone Targeted Russian Alabuga Key Industrial Hub In Tatarstan

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Russian air defense systems continue intercepting multiple Ukrainian drones, including an attempted strike deep inside Russian territory, targeting the Republic of Tatarstan. The attack, which appears to have been aimed at industrial and military facilities, marks another escalation in Kyiv’s long-range drone campaign against Russian regions.

According to the Defense Ministry of the Russian Federation, a Ukrainian fixed-wing drone was shot down over Tatarstan around midday. Local reports supported by the footage indicate that the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) was detected near Yelabuga, home to the Alabuga special economic zone, a key industrial hub involved in drone production, including the Geran kamikaze drones used extensively by Russian forces in Ukraine. No casualties or significant damage were reported.

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This is not the first time Tatarstan has been targeted. In April 2024, Ukrainian UJ-22 Airborne drones struck an oil refinery in Yelabuga and a dormitory in Nizhnekamsk, lightly damaging infrastructure and injuring six people. The latest attempt suggests Kyiv is continuing its strategy of striking military and industrial sites far beyond the front lines, testing Russian air defenses and attempting to disrupt defense production.

The attack on Tatarstan was part of a broader Ukrainian drone operation overnight. Russian air defenses reported downing 11 UAVs over several regions:

Three drones over Tula Oblast
Two drones over Belgorod Oblast
Two drones over Kursk Oblast
One drone each over Bryansk, Kaluga, Oryol Oblasts, and Crimea

The UAVs used in the attack are believed to be modified light aircraft, such as the Aeroprakt A-22 or UJ-22 Airborne, which have a range of up to 800 km and can carry around 20 kg of explosives. These drones fly at low altitudes to evade radar but were successfully detected and neutralized before reaching their intended targets.