Two new videos broadcast by the Russian state press offers a rare look at the Moscow's expansion arsenal. In the pictures you can see Geran-2 Drone-2 Drones-Russian oppression of Shahed-136 of Iranian manufacture-as well as launchers mounted on American trucks, used in attacks on Ukraine.
The Russian Underground Factory of Drone/Photo: X
Broadcast on July 14, the videos come against the background of a significant intensification of drone attacks, in what seems to be a clear transition to a large aerial conflict, supported by a saturation and wear strategy.
An increasingly automated conflict
The videos appear just a few days after the largest air attack held by Russia from the beginning of the war: 741 drones and missiles in a single wave were launched. According to analysts, Moscow could soon reach the ability to launch between 1,000 and 2,000 drones a day, in an attempt to overwhelm the Ukrainian anti-aircraft defense and tension Western military support.
The strategy pursued is clear: low costs, high volume, exhaustion of the opponent's resources.
Production on the underground industrial scale
The first material, transmitted by the Zvezda station, presents the interior of the drone factory in Elabuga, in Tatarstan, over 1,300 kilometers from the front line. According to official sources, the unit produces over 5,000 Geran-2 monthly drones, with 18,000 built in the first half of 2025.
The satellite images suggest that a significant part of the factory is underground, in an attempt to limit the damage caused by possible Ukrainian attacks. The filmed sequences capture the founders, assembly lines and electronic workshops – protected under consolidated structures.
Frequent target of Ukrainian attacks
Although located at a great distance from the conflict, the unit in Elabuga has been repeatedly targeted:
April 2024: An attack injured 12 people; fires were reported in a home.
May -June 2025: additional blows, including one with the death of an employee.
Despite these incidents, Russian officials say that production continues without major interruptions.
Mobile launches on American trucks
The second video shows drones released from Dodge RAM 1500, apparently American manufacturing, possibly obtained by violating the sanction regime. This type of mobile launch indicates a tactical-operative adaptation, allowing the rapid and increased drone density.
A war of wear with asymmetric costs
Geran-2 (Shahed-136) is designed for long distance attacks:
Length: 3.5 m
Savel: 2.5 m
Weight: ~ 200 kg
Fighting outbreak: 50 kg
Radius: up to 1,800 km
Speed: 300 km/h
Although relatively cheap ($ 35,000–50,000 per unit), these drones force Ukrainian defense to respond with expensive interceptors, such as Patriot systems, where each rocket can exceed $ 5 million.
This week, Ukraine announced that it had shot down the shahed drone with the number 30,000, according to the series analysis.
What do these images mean
The two videos offer clear clues on the war with drone:
The first shows an industrial production of large proportions, possibly underground and resistant to attack.
The second highlights mobile, flexible launch tactics, including the use of vehicles outside the Russian production sphere.
Together, they send a strategic message: Russia not only maintains the drone campaign – intensifies it.
