Among the downed Russian long-range kamikaze drones of the Shahed-136 type, a drone marked "Ы 11934" was recorded. The corresponding photo was taken by the Anadolu agency and distributed through the Getty Images photo agency.
It shows the wreckage of the drone that the enemy attempted to use during an attack on Kharkiv on December 21 of this year.
If the numbers were continuous, this indicates that Russia has produced approximately 10,000 "Shaheds" in 2024 at its own facilities. By February 2024, drones with the "Ы" index had numbers exceeding 2600. The first instance of such marking was observed in July 2023.
It is worth noting that initially, Russia used drones with the "М" index, which are believed to have been exclusively of Iranian assembly. Since 2023, the "К" index has emerged, along with a limited "КБ," which began production in Russia, but this series is no longer encountered.
Thus, it can be concluded that the Russian production of "Shaheds" in Alabuga has reached a significantly high production rate of drones. This is not just 1,000 per month, as this is the average rate over a year during which monthly volumes have only increased. As of the end of October this year, the number "Ы 7069" was noted.
This means, assuming that the number "Ы 11934" is sequential, that the monthly production rate of "Shaheds" in Russia reached about 2,000 units by the end of the year, compared to previous figures of up to 1,000 units per month. How the enemy managed to double the production volume remains a separate question.
However, it should be noted that the Russian "Alabuga" produced 6000 Shahed a year ahead of schedule, although it was expected to reach this capacity only by September 2025. This is why attacks on it, such as those conducted by the GUR of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine to destroy the component supply warehouse, are of immense significance.