The facility in “Alabuga,” which in 2021 consisted of only two buildings, has now grown to approximately 116 structures.
![Attack of "Shaheds"](/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/1abf0e89d55c9b449416d5eed4c58041.jpg "Attack of "Shaheds"")
Attack of “Shaheds” / © t.me/SJTF_Odesa
The secret Russian facility for the production of strike drones in the special economic zone “Alabuga” near the city of Yelabuga in Tatarstan is rapidly expanding.
This is evidenced by an analysis of satellite imagery conducted by the American Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), cited by The i Paper.
Researchers have recorded the deliberate construction of new production and auxiliary facilities, indicating a scaling up of Russia’s UAV production program.
It is estimated that the complex, which consisted of only two buildings in 2021, has now grown to approximately 116 structures.
A Key UAV Production Hub in Russia
In 2022, Russia, with Iran’s assistance, established a drone production facility in “Alabuga” based on the design of the Iranian Shahed-131 and Shahed-136. Currently, the enterprise produces Russian “Geran” drones, as well as “Gerbera” decoy drones.
According to data provided by The i Paper, production capacities may allow for the output of around 170-190 drones per day. This transforms Yelabuga into one of the main components of Russia’s campaign of massive strikes on Ukraine.
Ukraine Cannot Hit a Strategic Target
Yelabuga has repeatedly been the target of Ukrainian attacks in 2024 and 2025. However, the strikes have not caused large-scale and long-term damage to the production facilities.
According to experts, the complex is well-protected, and new buildings were constructed with potential attacks in mind.
Furthermore, the production relies heavily on manual labor and simple technologies, so there isn’t a single critical industrial node whose destruction could paralyze the entire plant.
Luke Coffey of the Hudson Institute believes that Ukraine currently lacks sufficient means of destruction capable of inflicting significant and lasting damage on the complex.
A New Threat for Ukraine
According to expert assessments, the continued expansion of “Alabuga” will enable Russia to produce thousands of drones, further overwhelming Ukraine’s air defense system.
Specialists also highlight the enterprise’s dependence on energy infrastructure and supply chains. However, the nature of the production allows Russia to potentially decentralize it across new sites.
Recall that Russia is also increasing its production of missiles capable of hitting targets in Ukraine due to a shortage of interceptors for Patriot systems.
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