Russia is accelerating the development of its most important production center for kamikaze drones used in the war in Ukraine. Satellite images taken in May 2026 show that the special economic zone Alabuga, in the Russian republic of Tatarstan, has expanded by approximately 340 hectares in a single year.
According to an analysis published by Radio Liberty, new industrial hangars, production buildings, and dormitories for foreign workers recruited by Moscow for the manufacture of “Geran” drones have appeared in the complex — the Russian version of the Iranian Shahed-type drones.
A new colossal construction site near the “Vostok” highway
The analyzed data shows that, starting from April 2026, the Russian authorities began the construction of a new industrial perimeter of approximately 450 hectares, located south of the federal highway M-12 “Vostok”.
The new industrial platform is set to be connected to the main Alabuga complex through a dedicated road already under construction.
The experts quoted by the publication believe that the scale of the works indicates the Kremlin’s intention to transform Alabuga into a long-term military production center, capable of supporting a much larger volume of attack drones.
Iranian drones adapted by Russia and sent back to Tehran
The Alabuga complex has become the main production center for the “Geran” drones, initially developed based on the Iranian Shahed technology.
The cited sources maintain that Russian engineers have modified and improved these models so much that some versions are now being re-exported to Iran to support Tehran’s military operations in the Middle East.
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