Drone factory expansion in Russia. Satellite images confirm

Construction is currently in progress in Russia for a factory set to mass-produce Shahed-136 kamikaze drones, designed by Iran, Reuters agency reported. Moscow reportedly plans to utilize these drones against Ukrainian energy facilities.

Satellite imagery analyzed by the American Institute of Science and National Security (ISIS) confirms this information. Reportedly, the construction site is located approximately 497 miles east of Moscow, in the Tatarstan region – it is precisely where the large-scale production of Shahed-136 drones is expected to commence.

The findings in the ISIS report highlight that neither the United States nor its allies have imposed any sanctions on the factory's owner, JSC Alabuga company, or any associated firms. According to the report, Washington should "urgently, though belatedly" impose sanctions on the factory owner and its affiliate companies.

On Sunday, the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, urged the nation to anticipate potential Russian attacks on energy infrastructure, given Russia's regular attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure last winter.

Since September 2022, Russia has incorporated drones sourced from Iran into its military tactics on the Ukrainian front. These kamikaze drones, typically of the Shahed type, have a range of approximately 621 miles and can carry nearly 110 pounds of explosives. These devices have been used to target civilians and to attack critical infrastructure across nearly all of Ukraine.