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Daily Mail
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Putin's 'dark destroyer' factory: Inside 'world's biggest drone plant' in Russia where army of teens make kamikaze killing machines to unleash on Ukraine
Russia has revealed what it claims is the largest drone production facility in the world. Located in a highly secretive complex in Yelabuga, Tatarstan, it employs teenagers to help build lethal kamikaze drones used in strikes on Ukraine. Footage broadcast by the Russian military's Zvezda TV channel shows rows of Gen-2 drones lined up inside the plant, ready to be deployed. The unnamed aerial vehicles are Russian-made versions of Iran 's Shahed-136 and have been used in deadly attacks on Ukrainian cities. Their black matte paint is designed to reduce visibility during night-time missions and evade air defence detection. The Alabuga plant is more than 1,000 kilometres from Ukraine's border and is part of a state-run special economic zone. Its director has boasted that production has exceeded expectations. Some reports suggest up to 18,000 units were built in the first half of 2025 alone. It's been reported that teenage students from the nearby Alabuga Polytechnic College are being trained in weapons manufacturing from the age of 14 or 15. Once they complete their education, many transition directly to the factory floor to join the assembly line. Footage shows these teenagers working on components, programming drones, and carrying out testing tasks, their faces blurred to conceal identities. Critics say this represents a dangerous militarisation of education, where children are being groomed into the defence industry and made to contribute directly to a brutal war. Reports from Russian media and leaked testimonies reveal that students are subjected to long working hours, sometimes without breaks, and are paid modest wages of about $335 to $445 per month. Contracts ban them from speaking about their work and impose severe financial penalties of up to $22,000 for violations. Families who resist or refuse participation can be forced to repay thousands of dollars in training costs, with surveillance reportedly used to enforce compliance. The drones produced at Alabuga have a range of up to 1,800 kilometres and are equipped with warheads capable of inflicting widespread destruction. Although Russia insists its drone strikes only target military sites, Ukraine and international observers accuse Moscow of using them to terrorise civilians. Kyiv has repeatedly reported drone attacks on residential areas, including the capital, where people take cover in underground shelters during nightly bombardments. The factory has also been linked to high-profile drone launches using repurposed American pickup trucks, which have been filmed carrying and firing the Geran-2. Russian state media showcased this as part of a broader campaign to boost public support for the war effort. President Vladimir Putin has called for an urgent increase in drone production, claiming more than 1.5 million unmanned systems were built last year. It is not the first time there has been news of children being used in Russia's war. Last month, Georgetown University published that thousands of children abducted from Ukrainian villages were being forcibly turned into soldiers.
Miami Herald
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Video Shows Inside Russia's Iranian Drone Factory
Russian state media has aired footage from a major drone production facility in Yelabuga, Tatarstan, where Moscow is domestically manufacturing Iranian-designed Shahed drones under the name Geran-2. The video, released by the Ministry of Defense's ZvezdaTV channel, offers a detailed view of one of Russia's key drone assembly centers that is helping fuel the country's ongoing war against Ukraine. Newsweek has reached out to the State Department as well as the foreign ministries of Russia, Ukraine and Iran for comment. Russia's shift from importing Iranian drones to mass-producing has marked an escalation in its war strategy. The Geran-2, modeled on Iran's Shahed-136, is cheap, easy to assemble, and effective at swarming Ukrainian defenses, especially at night. As Russia ramps up output, Ukraine's costly Western air defense systems face mounting pressure. Meanwhile, Iran's recent use of similar drones against Israel underscores their broader relevance. Even when intercepted, Shaheds can overwhelm advanced defense networks, reinforcing the logic behind mass deployment. Located near Kazan, the Yelabuga facility has emerged as the centerpiece of Russia's fast-growing drone program. New footage aired on state media shows an expansive assembly line producing thousands of Geran-2 drones each month-long-range, explosive-laden unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) based on Iran's Shahed design. These drones have become a core component of Russia's strategy to pressure Ukraine with relentless, low-cost aerial attacks. According to Zvezda TV, President Vladimir Putin has endorsed scaling the Yelabuga model nationwide to increase domestic output and reduce reliance on direct imports from Iran. This push aligns with recent trends in Russia's drone usage. According to a new assessment from the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War, Russia's per-night use of Shahed-type drones rose by 31 percent in both June and July. If the current pace continues, it is estimated that Russia could potentially launch up to 2,000 drones in a single night by November 2025; a dramatic increase from the fall of 2024, when roughly 2,000 drones were deployed across an entire month. The expansion of drone warfare has been underpinned by closer coordination between Moscow and Tehran. In January, Presidents Putin and Masoud Pezeshkian signed a 20-year "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership" treaty in Moscow. The agreement spans 47 articles covering defense, trade, energy, and technology. While it stops short of establishing a formal mutual defense pact, the treaty institutionalizes expanded military-technical cooperation, intelligence sharing, joint exercises, and weapons development. Iran has also employed Shahed drones in its own military operations. During its recent conflict with Israel, Tehran launched more than 100 Shahed-type UAVs in retaliation for Israeli airstrikes on Iranian targets. Although the majority were intercepted before entering Israeli airspace, the attack underscored Iran's growing reliance on drone salvos as a retaliatory tactic and illustrated how its UAV doctrine is increasingly mirrored by Russia's own battlefield strategy. Institute for the Study of War (ISW) "Russia may be able to launch up to 2,000 drones in one night by November 2025, should this current growth trend in drone usage continue." Israeli military spokesperson: "Most of the drones launched by Iran were intercepted before entering Israeli airspace, demonstrating the effectiveness of our air defense systems." As Russia scales up domestic drone production and Iran continues to showcase the Shahed's battlefield impact, both countries are jointly shaping a new model of low-cost, high-volume aerial warfare that challenges traditional air defenses. Related Articles Iran's Army Repairs Air Defenses for New WarIran and Russia Launch Naval Drills in Challenge to USIran to Hold Nuclear Talks With 3 European CountriesIran Boasts of New Air Defenses After Attacks From Israel, US 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Newsweek
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Video Shows Inside Russia's Iranian Drone Factory
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Russian state media has aired footage from a major drone production facility in Yelabuga, Tatarstan, where Moscow is domestically manufacturing Iranian-designed Shahed drones under the name Geran-2. The video, released by the Ministry of Defense's Zvezda TV channel, offers a detailed view of one of Russia's key drone assembly centers that is helping fuel the country's ongoing war against Ukraine. Newsweek has reached out to the State Department as well as the foreign ministries of Russia, Ukraine and Iran for comment. Why It Matters Russia's shift from importing Iranian drones to mass-producing has marked an escalation in its war strategy. The Geran-2, modeled on Iran's Shahed-136, is cheap, easy to assemble, and effective at swarming Ukrainian defenses, especially at night. As Russia ramps up output, Ukraine's costly Western air defense systems face mounting pressure. Meanwhile, Iran's recent use of similar drones against Israel underscores their broader relevance. Even when intercepted, Shaheds can overwhelm advanced defense networks, reinforcing the logic behind mass deployment. Screen grab from Zvezda TV shows workers assembling combat drones at various stages of production inside a factory in Tatarstan, Russia, on July 20, 2025. Screen grab from Zvezda TV shows workers assembling combat drones at various stages of production inside a factory in Tatarstan, Russia, on July 20, 2025. Zvezda TV What to Know Located near Kazan, the Yelabuga facility has emerged as the centerpiece of Russia's fast-growing drone program. New footage aired on state media shows an expansive assembly line producing thousands of Geran-2 drones each month—long-range, explosive-laden unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) based on Iran's Shahed design. These drones have become a core component of Russia's strategy to pressure Ukraine with relentless, low-cost aerial attacks. According to Zvezda TV, President Vladimir Putin has endorsed scaling the Yelabuga model nationwide to increase domestic output and reduce reliance on direct imports from Iran. Drone Usage This push aligns with recent trends in Russia's drone usage. According to a new assessment from the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War, Russia's per-night use of Shahed-type drones rose by 31 percent in both June and July. If the current pace continues, it is estimated that Russia could potentially launch up to 2,000 drones in a single night by November 2025; a dramatic increase from the fall of 2024, when roughly 2,000 drones were deployed across an entire month. Russia and Iran Partnership The expansion of drone warfare has been underpinned by closer coordination between Moscow and Tehran. In January, Presidents Putin and Masoud Pezeshkian signed a 20-year "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership" treaty in Moscow. The agreement spans 47 articles covering defense, trade, energy, and technology. While it stops short of establishing a formal mutual defense pact, the treaty institutionalizes expanded military-technical cooperation, intelligence sharing, joint exercises, and weapons development. Visitors look at a damaged Iranian-made drone, Shahed, during the International Conference on Expanding Sanctions Against Russia in Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, June 27, 2025. Visitors look at a damaged Iranian-made drone, Shahed, during the International Conference on Expanding Sanctions Against Russia in Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, June 27, 2025. Efrem Lukatsky/AP Photo Shahed Drones in Iran-Israel Conflict Iran has also employed Shahed drones in its own military operations. During its recent conflict with Israel, Tehran launched more than 100 Shahed-type UAVs in retaliation for Israeli airstrikes on Iranian targets. Although the majority were intercepted before entering Israeli airspace, the attack underscored Iran's growing reliance on drone salvos as a retaliatory tactic and illustrated how its UAV doctrine is increasingly mirrored by Russia's own battlefield strategy. What People Are Saying Institute for the Study of War (ISW) "Russia may be able to launch up to 2,000 drones in one night by November 2025, should this current growth trend in drone usage continue." Israeli military spokesperson: "Most of the drones launched by Iran were intercepted before entering Israeli airspace, demonstrating the effectiveness of our air defense systems." What Happens Next As Russia scales up domestic drone production and Iran continues to showcase the Shahed's battlefield impact, both countries are jointly shaping a new model of low-cost, high-volume aerial warfare that challenges traditional air defenses.
The Irish Sun
20-07-2025
- Politics
- The Irish Sun
Warped Russian state TV parades ‘drone death factory' packed with kamikaze killing machines after Ukraine blitzes Moscow
WARPED Russian state TV has shown off mad Vladimir Putin's "drone death factory" packed with kamikaze killing machines. The propaganda report came conveniently as 12 Russian state TV has shown off mad Vladimir Putin's 'drone death factory' Credit: East2West 12 Explosion of a Geran-2 drone next to a Yak-52 aircraft that was acting as an interceptor Credit: East2West 12 The brag came conveniently as Ukraine successfully blitzed Moscow for a fourth night in a row Credit: East2West 12 The giant death plant makes the Russian version of the Iranian Shahed-136 unmanned plane Credit: East2West The giant death plant makes the Russian version of the Iranian Shahed-136 unmanned plane. This has been frequently used to wreak mayhem in Ukraine. The plant has been shown to Russia's pro-war state media to coincide with a Kremlin threat to imminently send hundreds or even thousands of drones daily into Ukraine. But the warning came as brave Volodymyr Zelensky stepped up assaults since Donald Trump reportedly told him it was read more news Zvezda TV boasted that the plant is apparently the largest of its kind in the world - storing drones known in Russia as Geran-2s. Timur Shagivaleyev, director-general of the Alabuga Special Economic Zone, which Ukraine had repeatedly sought to attack, said: 'At one time there was a plan to produce several thousand Gerans. 'Now we are producing nine times more than the plan. 'We must do everything necessary to ensure that our country, our way of life, wins.' Most read in The US Sun The drone is 'effective and highly accurate," according to the channel, which is desperately attempting to show off war might. It went on to gloat how the drone is also "simple, cheap and therefore mass-produced". Ukraine unleashes hell on Moscow with massive drone blitz as explosions rock capital for fourth night & airspace closed The channel emphasised the apparent "scale of this production," evident through the "huge, bright workshops in which you can get lost" with "hundreds of machines, thousands of workers and wherever you look". Among its workers are teenagers propagandised to support Putin's war who are "educated" - or indoctrinated - at a special drone university. The Russian propaganda channel said: "There are young people, boys and girls, both working here and studying here in the college created by the same people who organised the production of Gerans. "They invite schoolchildren here immediately after the ninth grade, and after college they invite them to the plant. 'Vladimir Putin has noted the experience of Alabuga and even called for its replication.' The plant has its own foundry where the aluminium engine blocks are cast. 'There is a forge, where steel parts are made, there are assembly shops, where Geran engines are assembled,' said the report. They make the two-stroke engines, and other parts for the drones including microelectronics and wiring. 12 The moment of a Ukrainian strike on the Russian-occupied Donetsk region on Saturday Credit: East2West 12 The drone has been frequently used to wreak mayhem in Ukraine Credit: East2West 12 The plant has been shown to Russia's pro-war state media to coincide with a Kremlin threat Credit: East2West 12 The warning came as brave Volodymyr Zelensky stepped up assaults Credit: East2West 12 The pathetic propaganda attempt conveniently came after Ukraine unleashed chaos at Moscow's four airports Credit: East2West The pathetic propaganda attempt conveniently came after Hundreds of passenger planes had to be diverted as waves of flying bombs converged on the Russian capital. Footage showed explosions as Russian air defences attacked incoming unmanned planes in Zelenograd, a district 23 miles northwest of the Kremlin . Russia's defence ministry claimed to have downed 93 Ukrainian drones overnight across nine regions - 19 of them over the Moscow area alone. Authorities were forced to twice close airspace over Moscow, hitting airports Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo, Vnukovo and Zhukovsky. A total of 134 planes were diverted, as confusion and frustration gripped passengers caught up in the escalating fallout of the war. State airline Aeroflot was forced to adjust its schedule, while regional airports in Kaluga, Yaroslavl and Nizhny Novgorod were also thrown into disarray. Frustrated passengers - including tourists on summer vacations - were hit by delays, diverted flights and numerous cancellations in an apparent new tactic by Ukraine to paralyse air travel in Vladimir Putin's capital. Passengers — many travelling for summer vacations — were left bedding down on the airport floor. 'The restrictions are necessary for ensuring the safety of civil aircraft flights,' announced Russia's Federal Air Transport Agency. In Zelenograd, a district on the northwestern edge of Moscow, explosions were heard as air defences intercepted drones. Debris sparked fires that damaged buildings and set vehicles alight, according to local reports. In nearby Golube, residents described powerful blasts that shattered windows and shook homes , While Russian officials claimed success in intercepting the majority of drones, the repeated closures of Moscow's airspace suggest Ukraine is successfully placing pressure on the capital - targeting not just military assets but the daily functioning of civilian infrastructure. Trump's 50-day peace deadline for Vlad THE Kremlin mocked Donald Trump's 50-day peace deadline and may now demand even more Ukrainian territory instead of trying to sign peace. Vladimir Putin will instead keep terrorising Ukrainian civilians during the seven-week period, sources said. The furious US President said he is 'very unhappy' with Russia as he warned of 100 per cent secondary tariffs on Moscow should they continue to blitz Ukraine. Trump said he wants the war to end, but doubled down on his frustration with Putin, saying he's "disappointed" in the Russian leader. But a snarling Putin has always declined and instead ramped up his ground and aerial offensives across Ukraine. He also vowed to send US weapons - compromising of "everything" in their arsenal - to Nato so they can distribute them to Kyiv. 12 The aftermath of a Ukrainian strike on the Russian-occupied Donetsk region on July 19 Credit: east2west 12 The drone is 'effective and highly accurate,' according to the channel, which is desperately attempting to show off war might. Credit: East2West 12 Inside Putin's drone death plant Credit: East2West
Scottish Sun
20-07-2025
- Politics
- Scottish Sun
Warped Russian state TV parades ‘drone death factory' packed with kamikaze killing machines after Ukraine blitzes Moscow
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) WARPED Russian state TV has shown off mad Vladimir Putin's "drone death factory" packed with kamikaze killing machines. The propaganda report came conveniently as Ukraine successfully blitzed Moscow for a fourth night in a row. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 12 Russian state TV has shown off mad Vladimir Putin's 'drone death factory' Credit: East2West 12 Explosion of a Geran-2 drone next to a Yak-52 aircraft that was acting as an interceptor Credit: East2West 12 The brag came conveniently as Ukraine successfully blitzed Moscow for a fourth night in a row Credit: East2West 12 The giant death plant makes the Russian version of the Iranian Shahed-136 unmanned plane Credit: East2West The giant death plant makes the Russian version of the Iranian Shahed-136 unmanned plane. This has been frequently used to wreak mayhem in Ukraine. The plant has been shown to Russia's pro-war state media to coincide with a Kremlin threat to imminently send hundreds or even thousands of drones daily into Ukraine. But the warning came as brave Volodymyr Zelensky stepped up assaults since Donald Trump reportedly told him it was time to make Russians feel 'the pain' of war. Zvezda TV boasted that the plant is apparently the largest of its kind in the world - storing drones known in Russia as Geran-2s. Timur Shagivaleyev, director-general of the Alabuga Special Economic Zone, which Ukraine had repeatedly sought to attack, said: 'At one time there was a plan to produce several thousand Gerans. 'Now we are producing nine times more than the plan. 'We must do everything necessary to ensure that our country, our way of life, wins.' The drone is 'effective and highly accurate," according to the channel, which is desperately attempting to show off war might. It went on to gloat how the drone is also "simple, cheap and therefore mass-produced". Ukraine unleashes hell on Moscow with massive drone blitz as explosions rock capital for fourth night & airspace closed The channel emphasised the apparent "scale of this production," evident through the "huge, bright workshops in which you can get lost" with "hundreds of machines, thousands of workers and wherever you look". Among its workers are teenagers propagandised to support Putin's war who are "educated" - or indoctrinated - at a special drone university. The Russian propaganda channel said: "There are young people, boys and girls, both working here and studying here in the college created by the same people who organised the production of Gerans. "They invite schoolchildren here immediately after the ninth grade, and after college they invite them to the plant. 'Vladimir Putin has noted the experience of Alabuga and even called for its replication.' The plant has its own foundry where the aluminium engine blocks are cast. 'There is a forge, where steel parts are made, there are assembly shops, where Geran engines are assembled,' said the report. They make the two-stroke engines, and other parts for the drones including microelectronics and wiring. 12 The moment of a Ukrainian strike on the Russian-occupied Donetsk region on Saturday Credit: East2West 12 The drone has been frequently used to wreak mayhem in Ukraine Credit: East2West 12 The plant has been shown to Russia's pro-war state media to coincide with a Kremlin threat Credit: East2West 12 The warning came as brave Volodymyr Zelensky stepped up assaults Credit: East2West 12 The pathetic propaganda attempt conveniently came after Ukraine unleashed chaos at Moscow's four airports Credit: East2West The pathetic propaganda attempt conveniently came after Ukraine unleashed chaos at Moscow's four airports with a fourth successive drone blitz rocking the city. Hundreds of passenger planes had to be diverted as waves of flying bombs converged on the Russian capital. Footage showed explosions as Russian air defences attacked incoming unmanned planes in Zelenograd, a district 23 miles northwest of the Kremlin. Russia's defence ministry claimed to have downed 93 Ukrainian drones overnight across nine regions - 19 of them over the Moscow area alone. Authorities were forced to twice close airspace over Moscow, hitting airports Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo, Vnukovo and Zhukovsky. A total of 134 planes were diverted, as confusion and frustration gripped passengers caught up in the escalating fallout of the war. State airline Aeroflot was forced to adjust its schedule, while regional airports in Kaluga, Yaroslavl and Nizhny Novgorod were also thrown into disarray. Frustrated passengers - including tourists on summer vacations - were hit by delays, diverted flights and numerous cancellations in an apparent new tactic by Ukraine to paralyse air travel in Vladimir Putin's capital. Passengers — many travelling for summer vacations — were left bedding down on the airport floor. 'The restrictions are necessary for ensuring the safety of civil aircraft flights,' announced Russia's Federal Air Transport Agency. In Zelenograd, a district on the northwestern edge of Moscow, explosions were heard as air defences intercepted drones. Debris sparked fires that damaged buildings and set vehicles alight, according to local reports. In nearby Golube, residents described powerful blasts that shattered windows and shook homes, The Kyiv Post reported. While Russian officials claimed success in intercepting the majority of drones, the repeated closures of Moscow's airspace suggest Ukraine is successfully placing pressure on the capital - targeting not just military assets but the daily functioning of civilian infrastructure. Trump's 50-day peace deadline for Vlad THE Kremlin mocked Donald Trump's 50-day peace deadline and may now demand even more Ukrainian territory instead of trying to sign peace. Vladimir Putin will instead keep terrorising Ukrainian civilians during the seven-week period, sources said. The furious US President said he is 'very unhappy' with Russia as he warned of 100 per cent secondary tariffs on Moscow should they continue to blitz Ukraine. Trump said he wants the war to end, but doubled down on his frustration with Putin, saying he's "disappointed" in the Russian leader. But a snarling Putin has always declined and instead ramped up his ground and aerial offensives across Ukraine. He also vowed to send US weapons - compromising of "everything" in their arsenal - to Nato so they can distribute them to Kyiv. Read more here. 12 The aftermath of a Ukrainian strike on the Russian-occupied Donetsk region on July 19 Credit: east2west 12 The drone is 'effective and highly accurate,' according to the channel, which is desperately attempting to show off war might. Credit: East2West
