A "devastating" fireplace broke out at a Shahed drone warehouse on the Alabuga Particular Financial Zone in Russia's Tatarstan, destroying drone components value $16 million, Ukraine's navy intelligence (HUR) mentioned on Dec. 23.
The Alabuga Particular Financial Zone hosts the Yelabuga drone manufacturing facility that produces Shahed-type drones for the Russian navy, positioned greater than 1,300 kilometers (800 miles) from the Russia-Ukraine border.
In line with HUR, the affected warehouse saved 65 drone assault fuselages, in addition to engines, navigation programs, and thermal imaging cameras for the manufacturing of 400 Shahed-type drones.
"Every part burned down," the company mentioned with out explicitly claiming accountability for the "mysterious, devastating fireplace." Ukrainian intelligence companies have been beforehand linked to a variety of assassinations and sabotage operations deep within the Russian rear through the full-scale battle.
The Kyiv Unbiased couldn’t confirm the claims.
"HUR reminds that there shall be truthful retribution for each battle crime dedicated in opposition to the Ukrainian folks," the intelligence company mentioned in a press release.
Native authorities didn’t report any fireplace or related incident within the Alabuga zone in a single day on Dec. 23. Drones struck Kazan, Tatarstan's regional middle, on the morning of Dec. 21, damaging a number of buildings however reportedly inflicting no casualties.
The Yelabuga drone manufacturing facility was launched in July 2023, aiming to supply not solely Russian equivalents of Iranian-made Shahed drones but in addition the Albatross reconnaissance drones. Russia usually employs Shaheds and its domestic-made variants like Geran for strikes in opposition to Ukrainian cities and infrastructure.
Ukrainian long-range drones beforehand struck the Yelabuga facility in early April.
The Kyiv IndependentDmytro Basmat