King of Drones Who Makes Putin's 'Vampire' Seriously Injured in Mercedes Explosion

Vladimir Tkachuk, head of a Russian drone factory, was seriously injured when an explosive device detonated in his car near Yekaterinburg; his driver was killed. The incident appears to be an assassination attempt, joining a series of attacks on drone industry officials. Ukraine has not yet claimed responsibility.

Vladimir Tkachuk, who heads the Ural Drone Plant producing 'Upyr' drones for the Russian military, was seriously injured when an explosive device planted under his Mercedes detonated. The blast occurred late Tuesday in Bolshoy Istok, near Yekaterinburg, about 1,400 kilometers east of Moscow. His driver, described in some reports as a security guard, was killed on the spot. Tkachuk, a fervent war supporter, ran the Telegram channel 'Crazy about War' that raised funds for the army and amassed over 650,000 followers. A message posted on the channel yesterday said he is in intensive care and in stable condition. Mash media reported the car was destroyed by an explosive device. The assassination attempt joins a series of attacks on drone industry officials, including the shooting a week ago of Andrei Cherzov, head of the 'Laboratory for Air Transport' plant producing the 'Obod' drone. Ukraine has not yet claimed responsibility for the assassination attempt.