{"id":36203,"date":"2026-08-10T09:26:23","date_gmt":"2026-08-10T04:26:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=36203"},"modified":"2026-08-10T09:26:23","modified_gmt":"2026-08-10T04:26:23","slug":"drone-company-executives-targeted-as-russia-ukraine-war-escalates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=36203","title":{"rendered":"Drone company executives targeted as Russia-Ukraine war escalates"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div id=\"beyondwords-wrapper\" data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"beyondwords-wrapper\">\n<p><span class=\"label-bg\">NEW<\/span>You can now listen to Fox News articles!\n  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"speakable\">A dangerous new front is emerging in the <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_world_article_main-content_article-body_6_246587\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/world\/conflicts\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Russia-Ukraine war<\/a> as attackers and alleged intelligence operatives increasingly target executives and engineers developing the cutting-edge drone technology that is reshaping the battlefield, industry experts warned Sunday.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"speakable\">The attacks include an Aug. 4 car bombing near Yekaterinburg that critically injured Vladimir Tkachuk, head of Russian drone manufacturer Uraldronzavod, and killed his driver, according to Russian state news agency TASS, <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_world_article_main-content_article-body_6_246588\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/russia-moscow-explosion-urals-drone-tkachuk-uraldrinzavod-444a6f07da96a888a5f036e45e8c7e42\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">The Associated Press<\/a> reported.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">His company produces the &#8220;Upyr,&#8221; or &#8220;Ghoul,&#8221; a first-person-view attack drone used by Russian forces in Ukraine.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_world_article_main-content_article-body_6_246589\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/world\/a-new-kind-war-inside-ukraines-hidden-factories-mass-producing-combat-drones\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>&#8216;A NEW KIND OF WAR&#8217;: INSIDE UKRAINE&#8217;S HIDDEN FACTORIES MASS-PRODUCING COMBAT DRONES<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<div data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/343\/192\/drone-founder-russia.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/686\/384\/drone-founder-russia.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/672\/378\/drone-founder-russia.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1344\/756\/drone-founder-russia.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/931\/523\/drone-founder-russia.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1862\/1046\/drone-founder-russia.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"523\" width=\"931\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/720\/405\/drone-founder-russia.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1440\/810\/drone-founder-russia.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"405\" width=\"720\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1200\/675\/drone-founder-russia.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1\" alt=\"Vladimir Tkachuk\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p><span>A car bombing near Yekaterinburg that critically injured Vladimir Tkachuk, head of Russian drone manufacturer Uraldronzavod, and killed his driver.<\/span> <span>(Valeriy Sharifulin, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Days earlier, Andrei Cherezov, head of another Russian drone company, was shot three times in Tula overnight July 28-29 in an apparent <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_world_article_main-content_article-body_6_246590\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/us\/terror\/assassinations-murders\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">assassination attempt<\/a>, according to Ukrainian outlet <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_world_article_main-content_article-body_6_246591\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pravda.com.ua\/eng\/news\/2026\/07\/29\/8046387\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Pravda<\/a>. Authorities have not publicly attributed either attack to Ukraine.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_world_article_main-content_article-body_6_246592\" href=\"https:\/\/draganfly.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Draganfly<\/a> CEO Cameron Chell told Fox News Digital that the rise in attacks comes as Russia and Ukraine race for an edge in <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_world_article_main-content_article-body_6_246593\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/world\/a-new-kind-war-inside-ukraines-hidden-factories-mass-producing-combat-drones\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">drone warfare<\/a>, making the relatively small number of people responsible for developing new technology increasingly important targets.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">&#8220;When you can&#8217;t take out all the distributed infrastructure, drone manufacturing leadership becomes the primary target,&#8221; Chell said.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">&#8220;These strikes in Russia and Ukraine and Germany on founders, leaders, engineers of defense and, in particular, drone-type companies are down to drones and these companies having such an impact themselves.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_world_article_main-content_article-body_6_246594\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/world\/ukraines-battlefield-transforming-future-nato\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>UKRAINE\u2019S BATTLEFIELD IS TRANSFORMING THE FUTURE OF NATO<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<div data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/343\/192\/ukraine-laser.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/686\/384\/ukraine-laser.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/672\/378\/ukraine-laser.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1344\/756\/ukraine-laser.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/931\/523\/ukraine-laser.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1862\/1046\/ukraine-laser.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"523\" width=\"931\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/720\/405\/ukraine-laser.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1440\/810\/ukraine-laser.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"405\" width=\"720\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1200\/675\/ukraine-laser.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1\" alt=\"Anti-drone laser system\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p><span>Anti-drone laser system trialed on a Stryker combat military vehicle with a machine gun aimed at the sky in Ukraine during a counteroffensive.<\/span> <span>(Michelle Ursi\/Getty Images)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">&#8220;Because drone technology evolves rapidly \u2014 often with significant iterations occurring every 10 to 30 days \u2014 targeting a key engineer, founder, or product lead creates immediate operational disruptions on the battlefield.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">&#8220;Taking out a particular engineer or taking out a particular leader can set a very important weapons program back quite some time and disrupt shipments to the front line,&#8221; Chell added.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">German authorities have also arrested two suspected operatives accused of spying on a Bavarian drone manufacturer for <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_world_article_main-content_article-body_6_246595\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/politics\/executive\/national-security\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Russian intelligence<\/a>, while reports this month said the alleged operation included preparations to target company executive Stefan Thumann, according to Germany\u2019s <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_world_article_main-content_article-body_6_246596\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zeit.de\/2026\/34\/stefan-thumann-donaustahl-russischer-geheimdienst-attentat\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Die Zeit<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">The case follows a reported 2024 plot disrupted by U.S. and <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_world_article_main-content_article-body_6_246597\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/world\/german-officials-warn-islamist-far-left-rhetoric-driving-spike-antisemitic-attacks\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">German intelligence<\/a> to target Rheinmetall CEO <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_world_article_main-content_article-body_6_246598\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/europe\/threat-plot-murder-rheinmetall-ceo-was-part-sabotage-campaign-nato-says-2025-01-28\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Armin Papperger<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_world_article_main-content_article-body_6_246599\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/world\/zelenskyy-announces-the-future-here-after-wars-first-all-robot-capture\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>ZELENSKYY ANNOUNCES &#8216;THE FUTURE IS HERE&#8217; AFTER WAR&#8217;S FIRST ALL-ROBOT CAPTURE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<div data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/343\/192\/lviv-drone-factory-worker.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/686\/384\/lviv-drone-factory-worker.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/672\/378\/lviv-drone-factory-worker.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1344\/756\/lviv-drone-factory-worker.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/931\/523\/lviv-drone-factory-worker.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1862\/1046\/lviv-drone-factory-worker.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"523\" width=\"931\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/720\/405\/lviv-drone-factory-worker.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1440\/810\/lviv-drone-factory-worker.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"405\" width=\"720\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1200\/675\/lviv-drone-factory-worker.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1\" alt=\"Factory working putting together drones\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p><span>Drone components and battlefield systems assembled at a Ukrainian manufacturing facility in an undisclosed location in western Ukraine.<\/span> <span>(Efrat Lachter\/Fox News Digital)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Chell said as Ukraine and Russia push toward artificial intelligence and autonomous weapons systems, engineers developing those technologies are more strategically important.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">&#8220;What we see in the Ukraine-Russia conflict is nobody in the loop \u2014 total autonomy is the direction things are going because it moves with more speed and precision,&#8221; Chell said.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">&#8220;<a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_world_article_main-content_article-body_6_246600\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/politics\/inside-chinas-ai-wolf-pack-drones-built-taiwan-conflict-mind\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">AI and total autonomy<\/a> are the big innovations for the next 18 months, so a potential reason we could see more targeted activity against leaders is because Ukrainians have that technology advantage.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">&#8220;Targeting small drone companies is a relatively easy operation compared to targeting individuals in state-run weapons programs,&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">&#8220;It is a fairly inexpensive, low-risk tactic for intelligence agencies that yields an immediate impact on the battlefield, and that&#8217;s why we&#8217;ve seen this tactic.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">&#8220;It is a very interesting turn or tactic that&#8217;s being played by both sides here.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Chell highlighted how Russia and Ukraine approach such plots differently.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">&#8220;I wouldn&#8217;t suggest one side has an advantage over the other in terms of tactics, but psychologically, it has a deeper effect on the Russian side,&#8221; Chell said.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_world_article_main-content_article-body_6_246601\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/world\/ukraine-unleashes-more-than-400-drones-near-moscow-one-wars-biggest-attacks\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>UKRAINE UNLEASHES MORE THAN 400 DRONES NEAR MOSCOW IN ONE OF WAR&#8217;S BIGGEST ATTACKS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<div data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/343\/192\/russia-drone-exec-putin.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/686\/384\/russia-drone-exec-putin.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/672\/378\/russia-drone-exec-putin.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1344\/756\/russia-drone-exec-putin.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/931\/523\/russia-drone-exec-putin.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1862\/1046\/russia-drone-exec-putin.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"523\" width=\"931\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/720\/405\/russia-drone-exec-putin.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1440\/810\/russia-drone-exec-putin.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"405\" width=\"720\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1200\/675\/russia-drone-exec-putin.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1\" alt=\"russia-drone-exec-putin\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">&#8220;The volume of drone advantage will remain with the Russians for the foreseeable future, but the innovation of drones, tactics, and technology lies with the Ukrainians right now.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">&#8220;Ukraine faces an existential threat, so they are ready for anything. Their tactics tend to be much more blunt \u2014 a direct shooter in a hallway or a car bomb,&#8221; he added.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">&#8220;The Russian tactics tend to be much more state-organized, using old <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_world_article_main-content_article-body_6_246602\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/politics\/foreign-policy\/geopolitics\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Cold War tactics<\/a>: low-level contacts, extensive intelligence and surveillance ahead of time, and inserting into other countries like Germany,&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">&#8220;The Russians have a long-standing, well-established intelligence infrastructure dating back to World War II and the Cold War.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_world_article_main-content_article-body_6_246603\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/opinion\/trump-proving-way-better-military-secure-supply-chains\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>TRUMP IS PROVING THAT THE WAY TO BETTER OUR MILITARY IS TO SECURE OUR SUPPLY CHAINS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<div data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/343\/192\/ukraine-rq-35-heidrun-drone-operator.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/686\/384\/ukraine-rq-35-heidrun-drone-operator.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/672\/378\/ukraine-rq-35-heidrun-drone-operator.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1344\/756\/ukraine-rq-35-heidrun-drone-operator.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/931\/523\/ukraine-rq-35-heidrun-drone-operator.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1862\/1046\/ukraine-rq-35-heidrun-drone-operator.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"523\" width=\"931\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/720\/405\/ukraine-rq-35-heidrun-drone-operator.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1440\/810\/ukraine-rq-35-heidrun-drone-operator.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"405\" width=\"720\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1200\/675\/ukraine-rq-35-heidrun-drone-operator.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1\" alt=\"Ukrainian army drone operator.\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p><span>A soldier launches an RQ-35 Heidrun drone used for reconnaissance and artillery fire correction in the Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine on Feb. 22, 2026.<\/span> <span>(Dmytro Smolienko\/Ukrinform\/NurPhoto via Getty Images)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">As the drone manufacturing industry takes greater precautions, Chell maintained that threats against companies and individuals in the defense supply chain are receiving increased scrutiny.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">&#8220;We are very cognizant of it, and we&#8217;re in contact with the proper authorities to make sure we&#8217;re taking precautions on both a <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_world_article_main-content_article-body_6_246604\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/tech\/topics\/cybercrime\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">cyber and physical level<\/a> to ensure we&#8217;re at less risk,&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">&#8220;We certainly don&#8217;t take anything for granted.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">&#8220;There are training and programs in place to ensure executives have a level of safety, primarily around awareness, cybersecurity, and physical location protection,&#8221; Chell added before stating that the attacks and attempted assassinations have &#8220;heightened the conversation around it.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><a href=\"https:\/\/foxnews.onelink.me\/xLDS?pid=AppArticleLink&amp;af_dp=foxnewsaf%3A%2F%2F&amp;af_web_dp=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.foxnews.com%2Fapps-products\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">&#8220;We as an industry are taking it with a measured amount more seriously,&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n<p> <!----> <!----> <\/p>\n<div class=\"article-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-bio\">\n<p>Emma Bussey is a breaking news writer for Fox News Digital. Before joining Fox, she worked at The Telegraph with the U.S. overnight team, across desks including foreign, politics, news, sport and culture.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! A dangerous new front is emerging in the Russia-Ukraine war as attackers and alleged intelligence operatives increasingly target executives and engineers developing the cutting-edge drone technology that is reshaping the battlefield, industry experts warned Sunday. The attacks include an Aug. 4 car bombing near Yekaterinburg that critically&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":36204,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/russia-drone-exec-putin.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-36203","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pics-news"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36203","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=36203"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36203\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/36204"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=36203"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=36203"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=36203"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}