Fire Destroys $16 Million Worth of Shahed Drone Components in Russia’s Alabuga Warehouse

A massive fire broke out in the Alabuga Special Economic Zone in Russia, engulfing a warehouse storing critical components for Shahed-136 drones, widely used by Russia in its attacks on Ukraine, Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR) reported on December 23.

The warehouse housed 65 drone fuselages, engines, navigation systems, and thermal imaging cameras, enough to produce 400 Shahed-136 drones. The blaze destroyed all the equipment.

HUR added that the loss is estimated at $16 million, which significantly blows Russia’s military-industrial complex.

Earlier, Colonel Vadym Sukharevskyi, Commander of the Armed Forces of Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces, announced the development of a new type of Ukrainian laser weapon, created to counter Russian drone attacks. The project, called Trident (Trizub), is already undergoing testing.

In addition, HUR reported that that one-third of facilities supplying fuel to the Russian military have been damaged or rendered inoperable due to special operations carried out by Ukrainian forces.