Russian drone factory increases attacks on Ukraine with domestic Geran-2 production
Russian state media documented teenagers working at a major drone factory assembling Geran-2 suicide drones for escalating attacks on Ukraine. The autonomous weapons have been modified for improved evasion and are being deployed in record numbers, with over 700 launched in a single day and nightly attacks terrorizing Ukrainian civilians.
What happened
Russian state media Zvezda broadcast footage on July 21, 2025 showing teenagers as young as 14 working at the Yelabuga production plant, dubbed the 'world's biggest drone factory', assembling Geran-2 suicide drones for attacks on Ukraine.
The factory has produced tens of thousands of Geran-2 drones, nine times more than the several thousand originally promised two years ago. The drones cost between $20,000 and $50,000 each and can fly up to 932 miles.
Russia launched more than 700 drones at Ukraine on July 8, 2025, a record, with swarms attacking nightly. Russian military engineers have upgraded the original Iranian Shahed design to increase altitude, improve jamming resistance, and make interception harder.
Reported impact
The nightly drone swarms terrorize the Ukrainian population and attack targets from the industrial east to areas near the western border with Poland.
Analysts say the barrages are likely to escalate, with some experts predicting drone attacks could soon reach 1,000 per day.
Index analysis
The Yelabuga facility, established within a Special Economic Zone in 2023, has its own drone testing facility. The Russian Defense Ministry has announced plans to establish a separate military branch dedicated to drone forces and a dedicated center for improving drone tactics and training.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.