An unidentified unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) was detected near CHPP-29 in Elektrostal, triggering immediate attention from plant personnel and local authorities. The sighting was reported through a widely followed Telegram channel known as Shot, which has become a rapid-information channel for incidents around critical infrastructure. The incident prompted a careful response from security teams and a preliminary inquiry into the drone’s trajectory, origin, and purpose as the situation unfolded over the following hours.
According to the Telegram channel’s reporting, workers at the thermal power facility first noticed the drone after a brief electrical fault occurred on one of the power lines serving the plant. This fault was followed by a visible disturbance on the adjacent ground, and engineers promptly alerted law enforcement as a precautionary measure. The timeline suggests that the drone appeared very close to operations, prompting a rapid assessment by the plant’s safety officers and regional police units to determine if the device posed any immediate risk to personnel or infrastructure.
Officials stated that shortly before the drone manifested over the site, a short circuit occurred on one of the lines, igniting a small patch of grass beneath. In the aftermath, there were no injuries reported and there is no indication of any direct harm to personnel. Investigators are currently working to establish the drone’s ownership and control, including whether it was operating independently or under external command. The breadth of the inquiry includes reviewing surveillance footage, measuring flight paths, and interviewing witnesses who witnessed the drone’s approach and departure from the vicinity of the facility.
At this stage, law enforcement agencies are assessing potential connections to broader security concerns and any link to other recent events involving aerial devices near critical infrastructure. The focus remains on confirming the drone’s aircraft type, its payload if any, and whether the device carried signals or guidance that could inform authorities about its directives. Local authorities emphasized there were no reported casualties and that emergency protocols at CHPP-29 functioned as intended to mitigate risk while the investigation continues.
In a related development, information circulated about another drone incident near a key facility, described as a drone of explosive potential belonging to the Armed Forces of Ukraine (APU), which allegedly crashed into the perimeter fence of Shukhov airfield in Belgorod. Photographs and eyewitness accounts described the craft as an aircraft-type drone that collided with a concrete barrier and detonated, producing a localized blast momentarily. Fortunately, there were no casualties or injuries, and the impact was largely confined to fence damage and a breached signal line. The border is approximately 35 kilometers from Belgorod’s airport, underlining the broader regional concern about aerial incursions in this area.
The convergence of these reports highlights ongoing challenges for security agencies tasked with monitoring unmanned aerial operations near sensitive infrastructure. Authorities are expected to conduct a thorough technical evaluation of all reported UAVs, including cross-checking flight logs, telemetry data, and any recoverable fragments to determine flight intent, operator affiliation, and the potential for recurrence. By combining physical inspections with cyber and signal analysis, investigators aim to build a clearer picture of any systematic threat patterns and to reinforce protective measures where necessary, all while avoiding disruption to essential public utilities and safe evacuation routes for nearby communities.