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Head of drone manufacturer critically injured in car bomb in Russia
Pjotr Sauer
The head of a leading Russian drone manufacturer has been critically injured in a car bomb near Ekaterinburg, in what appears to be the latest in a series of assassination attempts targeting figures linked to the country’s war in Ukraine.
Vladimir Tkachuk, the founder of the private drone manufacturer Uraldronzavod, was rushed to intensive care on Wednesday after a bomb planted beneath his Mercedes exploded, according to Russian state media, citing emergency services. His bodyguard was killed in the explosion.
The Russian news agency Tass reported that Tkachuk was in a critical condition and doctors were “fighting [to save] his life”.
Images circulating on social media showed the charred wreckage of a Mercedes, with blood stains visible on the pavement nearby.
Uraldronzavod is one of several private drone manufacturers that sprang up in Russia after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The company is best known for producing the Upyr (Ghoul), a low-cost first-person-view (FPV) kamikaze drone manufactured using 3D-printing technology at its facility in Ekaterinburg and widely used by Russian forces in Ukraine.
In 2024, Vladimir Putin visited the factory, where he was given a tour by Tkachuk.
Uraldronzavod and Tkachuk have been hit with sanctions by western governments for their role in supporting Russia’s war.
Tkachuk is also the founder of the popular pro-war Telegram channel Obsessed with War, which has more than 500,000 followers and has been used to raise funds and procure military equipment for Russian soldiers fighting on the frontline.
Russia is likely to blame Ukraine for the bombing, which comes just days after an explosion outside an upmarket restaurant in central Moscow that killed five people.
Morning opening: Ukraine hits Russia’s oil refineries as Russian strikes on Ukrainian cities continue
Jakub Krupa
At least six people were killed and 36 injured in another round of Russian overnight attacks on Ukraine, targeting the eastern city of Balakliia and the northern region of Sumy.
But the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, noted that Ukraine’s military managed to hit two Russian refineries in targeted attacks, hitting “Russia’s oil revenues, which it uses to finance the war and the killing of Ukrainians.”
“Ukraine’s Defence Forces struck the aggressor’s facilities more than 1,300 kilometres from the frontline. The Bashneft-Novoil refinery was hit in Bashkortostan. In the Yaroslavl region, nearly 700 kilometres from our border, the Slavneft-YANOS refinery was hit,” he said.
“Russia must choose peace,” he added.
The attacks come at a particularly sensitive moment as Ukraine is growing concerned about the lack of air defence missiles to protect its skies. Nato secretary general Mark Rutte pledged to “urgently” look into this after speaking to Zelenskyy last night.
Later this month, US negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are expected to make their first visit to Kyiv for direct talks with Zelenskyy, with the issue of US licensing the manufacturing of Patriot missiles to Ukraine is likely to be discussed.
Elsewhere, I will be keeping an eye on the latest from Leipzig after last night’s press conference by Germany’s interior minister Alexander Dobrindt, hinting at the possible involvement of “foreign powers” remaining in “competition” with Europe on hybrid threats.
Who could he possibly be thinking about?
I will also follow the latest from central and south eastern Europe as several countries remain on red alert due to extreme temperatures. Austria and Slovakia broke their all-time high temperature records on Wednesday, with more extreme heat expected today, including also in Italy.
It’s Thursday, 6 August 2026, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.
Good morning.
