Russia is rapidly expanding the production of shock UAVs in Alabuga — CNN

Russia is expanding the production of attack drones at the Yelabuga plant. This is reported by CNN with reference to satellite images and experts.

The expansion of production capacity is happening so fast that, according to experts, the ultimate goal of the site may be the mass production of drones for global export.

"Even more striking is that CNN's analysis of the images and experts... have revealed what appears to be a significant expansion of housing for workers at the facility. The July 12 image shows at least 104 identical rectangular buildings, fully or partially built, with a similar area of existing buildings that are known to be dormitories for workers. In the pictures for February there were only 15 such buildings. Apparently, work on new buildings began in earnest in March, when spring came and the snow came down," the TV channel reports.

There are also signs that construction has accelerated in recent weeks — more than half of the residential development present in the July 12 picture was not on June 9, CNN notes.

A team of analysts from the American ISIS center estimated that after completion of construction, the buildings will be able to accommodate up to 40 thousand workers, which, allegedly, will represent a "fairly significant increase in drone production."

In December, CNN reported that from January to September 2024, Alabuga produced more than 5,700 Shahed (Geranium) drones, which is more than twice as many as in the whole of 2023. According to sources in the military intelligence of Ukraine, in 2024 the facility planned to release 10 thousand Gerbera decoy drones.