Russia plans to increase production of Shahed drones by 100-180 per month 

Valerii Riabykh, Director for Development of the Defense Express media and consulting company, told Espreso.

"Currently, we are talking about a gradual increase in UAV production. The growth will be from 100 to 180 units per month for a certain period. There are certain restrictions for the occupying Russian forces - Ukraine’s partners are reviewing the effectiveness of the sanctions imposed," he said.

According to Riabykh, the sanctions will continue to be tightened amid evidence of the use of Western components.

"Russia wants to implement a plan to produce up to 4,000 Shahed-type ‘kamikaze’ drones by the end of 2025. At the moment, we cannot say that the enemy will definitely implement these plans. This will depend, among other things, on the world's attention and our work with partners to strengthen and impose new sanctions to cut off access to Western technologies," the expert concluded.

More details about the Iranian drone factory in Russia

Back in November 2022, it was reported that Russian terrorists and their Iranian partners had allegedly agreed to jointly produce drones for use in the war against Ukraine. And Russian dictator Vladimir Putin ordered the creation of a system for training specialists in the development and production of drones.

In February 2023, the Western media again reported that Iran and Russia were holding secret talks on the construction of a plant for the production of ‘kamikaze’ drones. At the time, Iran denied this information.

On August 16, British intelligence indicated that Russia had apparently begun using drones of its own production.

The Washington Post, citing internal documents between Iran and Russia, reported that the Shahed factory in the Alabuga Special Economic Zone in Tatarstan, Russia, plans to produce 6,000 ‘kamikaze’ drones by 2025.