On April 23, the Armed Forces of Ukraine launched a long-range strike on a high-value russian military-industrial facility located in the Republic of Tatarstan, a region deep inside the russian federation, more than 1,000 kilometers from the Ukrainian border.
The target was a drone manufacturing plant situated within the Alabuga Special Economic Zone, a key industrial cluster that has become increasingly involved in supporting russia’s war effort.
Read more: The Destroyed 51st GRAU Arsenal in russia Contained 107mm Rockets For Chinese Type 63 MLRS
1/2 Ukrainian sources are reporting a long-range (LR) UAV strike was conducted today on a Russian Shahed-136 production facility in #Alabuga, Tatarstan, Russia.#OSINT pic.twitter.com/tYmiR6e3le— OSINT Intuit (@UKikaski) April 23, 2025
According to the Ukrainian forces' General Staff, the attacked facility has the capacity to produce up to 300 combat drones per day. These drones are believed to be used in russian operations against Ukraine, including strikes on civilian infrastructure and frontline positions. The factory is located 1,054 km from the Ukrainian border.
The statement confirmed successful impacts and explosions at the site, including damage to the final assembly workshop of the drone production line. The full extent of the damage is still being assessed.
"This strike is a just response to a key strategic military facility used to sustain russia's armed aggression and terror against civilians in Ukraine," the General Staff stated.
The attack highlights Ukraine's growing ability to project force at long range, potentially through the use of domestically produced long-range drones or modified Western systems.
As russia increasingly leans on drone warfare as a cost-effective and scalable component of its military campaign, the disruption of its drone supply chain could carry notable operational consequences. Facilities like the one in Alabuga represent a significant node in this network and their vulnerability may raise new questions about the Kremlin's ability to shield critical assets from Ukrainian reach.
Read more: russians Test Molniya Kamikaze Drones Close to Front Line and Civilian Areas
