Vladimir Tkachuk, the director of the Uraldronzavod factory, was severely injured late Tuesday in an explosion that destroyed his vehicle in Bolshoy Istok, a town located approximately 1,400 kilometers east of Moscow. While Tkachuk survived the blast and was transported to a hospital in grave condition, his driver was killed at the scene.

Uraldronzavod is known for supplying drones to the Russian military, a sector that has become increasingly significant amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. As of Wednesday, Russian state news agencies, including Tass and RIA Novosti, have confirmed the incident, but there has been no official comment from law enforcement or government authorities regarding the cause of the explosion or potential suspects. The lack of immediate information has left the circumstances surrounding the blast unclear, with no group or individual claiming responsibility for the attack at this stage.