Yelabuga drone factory
Yelabuga drone factory | |
|---|---|
| Military production facility | |
Satellite imagery of the Yelabuga drone factory inside the Alabuga SEZ | |
| Owner | Russian Federation |
| Location | Alabuga Special Economic Zone, Republic of Tatarstan, Russia |
Interactive map of Yelabuga drone factory | |
| Coordinates: 55°49′17.2″N 52°02′53.6″E / 55.821444°N 52.048222°E | |
The Yelabuga drone factory (Russian: Елабужский завод беспилотников) is a Russian arsenal factory within the Alabuga Special Economic Zone in Tatarstan. Operated by the Russian company Albatross, the factory produces a large amount of Shahed-type and other military drones used by Russia in Russo-Ukrainian war. It has been reported that the facility is largely staffed by students, including minors. The location of the factory allows for ease of transportation between Russia and Iran, with Iran being the source of many drones produced in Yelabuga. The factory, long short-staffed, has sought thousands of workers, mainly females and girls as young as 15 from Africa. In 2023, the factory's goal was to produce approximately 10,000 Shahed-type drones per year. The factory also produces reconnaissance drones, with the facility operating 24 hours a day. Based on Ukrainian Air Force data analyzed by Agence France-Presse, Russia fired 5,438 long‑range drones in June 2025, which equals an average of ~181 drones per day.