A bomb was planted under the vehicle of Vladimir Tkachuk, whose company manufactures UAVs widely used by Russian troops in Ukraine. The explosion killed Tkachuk’s driver and injured the businessman, local officials said on Wednesday.

Tkachuk, who is currently stable after the incident, owns Uraldronzavod, which produces the Upyr (Vampire) drone. He described launching a drone-making startup in the fall of 2022 when it became clear that UAVs were playing an increasingly important role on the battlefield in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. In September 2024, Tkachuk presented the Upyr and other drones to Russian President Vladimir Putin at a technology exhibition in St. Petersburg.

Ekaterinburg city councilor Timofey Zhukov stated that Tkachuk had regained consciousness after the explosion and his life was no longer in danger.

Authorities have not identified any suspects for the attack, but Ukraine has targeted Russian military officials, activists, and journalists throughout the conflict. Last year, car bombs killed Lieutenant General Yaroslav Moskalik and Lieutenant General Fanil Sarvarov, both senior commanders on Russia’s General Staff.

A bomb exploded outside an Italian restaurant in Moscow on Saturday, killing five people, including an unidentified woman who is believed to have delivered the explosive device. Telegram channels claimed that the restaurant was hosting a birthday party for Colonel General Aleksandr Chaiko, head of Russia’s Aerospace Forces. However, Moscow did not confirm the claim or disclose the identities of the victims.

On June 29, a woman planted a bomb outside the home of Ukrainian businessman Vadim Ermolaev in Ukraine, injuring him. The suspected courier, Anastasia Berezovskaya, fled to Ukraine and was later found dead there.

Ukrainian authorities arrested Vladislav Reut, an active officer in Ukraine’s military intelligence agency (HUR), and Vitaly Zhikovich, a former colonel in the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), in connection with the crime.