Russian drone developer seriously injured in car explosion in Yekaterinburg

Vladimir Tkachuk, CEO of Uraldronzavod and creator of the Telegram channel Povernutye na voine (“Obsessed with the war”), was injured in Yekaterinburg when his Mercedes exploded, according to the Russian business daily Kommersant and the Russian state news agency TASS.

The blast occurred in the village of Bolshoy Istok, about 25 kilometers (16 miles) from Yekaterinburg. According to media reports, Tkachuk is in intensive care in serious condition. His driver was also killed in the explosion.

Russian authorities have opened a criminal case on suspicion of attempted murder, a source told TASS and the Yekaterinburg-based news outlet E1.

Tkachuk developed the Russian FPV drone Upyr (“Ghoul”), which Uraldronzavod produces, and his Telegram channel, Povernutye na voine, has more than 650,000 subscribers.

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