A Shield for Alabuga: Are These Towers Meant to Protect Russia’s Drones?

Russia is not only expanding its drone factories in Alabuga. Recent satellite images suggest it is also building a substantial defensive system around them.

The site, in Tatarstan about 1,000 kilometers from the Ukrainian border, began with deliveries of Iranian Shahed-136 combat drones. It has since developed into a large domestic production complex, where Russia manufactures attack drones from the Geran series. Based on the Iranian Shahed, these drones have become a central tool in Russia’s air attacks on Ukraine since 2022.

Production at Alabuga began in 2023, and the industrial complex has continued to grow. Dozens of buildings have been added, some stretching several hundred meters. The facility has already been targeted by Ukrainian drone attacks, increasing the apparent importance of protecting it.

High-resolution images from the U.S. company Vantor, taken on August 22 and September 2, show numerous new towers around the production halls at the center of the site. Their arrangement appears to form two rings. Shorter masts create an inner ring around the central buildings, while much taller towers enclose the wider complex.

The masts are painted red and white. The Institute for Science and International Security said they could eventually carry a wire net designed to shield the facilities. The images indicate that the site’s security infrastructure is expanding alongside its role in Russia’s drone production network.