Documents from Russia’s state nuclear corporation show plans to expand output of carbon fiber used in Geran-2 attack drones
European officials are increasingly worried about the growing number of sabotage attacks and Russian drone incidents in NATO countries. According to The Guardian, European intelligence agencies believe Russia may take more aggressive action in Europe in the coming months.
Michal Koudelka, head of the Czech counterintelligence service BIS, said Moscow could launch a small incursion into one of the NATO countries that border Russia. “It could involve a limited incursion, false-flag provocations, a massive influence campaign,” he said. Last week, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned of a similar threat.
Officials in the Baltic states say they see no signs of an “imminent attack” yet, but they acknowledge that Russia may be preparing for more aggressive action. Jonatan Vseviov, secretary general of Estonia’s Foreign Ministry, said on social media that if the authorities had reason to fear a Russian attack, they would tell the public. “Until then, keep calm, carry on and support Ukraine.”
The debate over the likelihood of a direct escalation comes amid a very real rise in Russian hybrid operations in Europe. Last week, Bloomberg laid out in detail how those operations grew both more frequent and riskier over the summer. Their true scale may be much larger, since the authorities don’t publicly disclose many incidents. Bloomberg’s sources said Moscow intends to make life in Europe “hell” as punishment for supporting Ukraine.
Russia is also building up its capacity for further escalation, according to Politico. The outlet reviewed Rosatom documents on expanding production at the Alabuga-Volokno plant in Tatarstan.
In May, the Russian authorities approved building a new production line at the plant that would be able to produce up to 500 tons of carbon fiber a year. The material is used in the airframes of Russia’s Geran-2 attack drones, and the new line would allow Russia to expand drone production significantly. Experts estimate that 500 tons of carbon fiber is enough for 28,000 drone airframes a year. Ukraine currently puts Russia’s capacity at 36,000 Gerans a year.
Satellite images suggest that construction has already begun. It’s scheduled for completion in 2027. Serhiy Kuzan, chairman of the Ukrainian Security and Cooperation Center, which obtained the Rosatom documents, warned that the planned expansion at Alabuga should be seen not just as a problem for Ukraine’s front line but as a long-term threat to all of Europe.
The war in photos: Kramatorsk
Russia struck an evacuation center in Kramatorsk, in the Donetsk region. The center was housed in a school building, and evacuated civilians and staff were inside when the strike hit. Two people were injured.
A school in Kramatorsk destroyed by a Russian airstrike, September 20, 2026
Diego Herrera Carcedo / Anadolu / Getty Images
A school in Kramatorsk destroyed by the strike. The building had served as an evacuation point for civilians
Francisco Richart / ZUMA Press Wire / Scanpix / LETA
Francisco Richart / ZUMA Press Wire / Scanpix / LETA
Kramatorsk residents outside the evacuation center destroyed by the Russian airstrike, September 20, 2026
Anatolii Stepanov / Reuters / Scanpix / LETA
At Meduza, we are committed to transparency about our use of artificial intelligence in the newsroom. The story you’re reading was written by one of our living, breathing journalists and translated from Russian using an AI model configured to follow our strict editorial standards. This translation process is the result of extensive testing and refinements to ensure our English-language coverage is timely and accurate. A Meduza editor reviews every draft before publication.
If you find any errors in this translation, please contact us at reports@meduza.io.
To read Meduza’s exclusive content in English, please subscribe to our newsletter.