According to the Telegram Base Channel and another pro-government Russian sources, Kondratev was attacked by a hammer at the entrance to his block by a masked attacker. The victim in severe condition was admitted to the ICU, and immediate medical assistance on the scene could have saved his life.
Kurganpribor is 1 of the key companies in the Russian arms manufacture under US, EU and UK sanctions for supporting the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The mill produces components for rockets for Grad, S-300 and R-74 systems, as well as detonators for tank, artillery and marine ammunition. During the war in Ukraine, the plant increased production by 70%, introducing work for night and weekend shifts.
Andrei Kondratev performed 1 of the key roles at Kurganpribor plants, overseeing the usage of hundreds of prisoners released from the penal colony, who were assigned to work on production tapes. The motives of the attacker are not officially known, but the Baza channel speculates that the attack could have been the consequence of conflicts in the workplace, as Kondratev was allegedly expected to lower the salaries of part of the employees, which could have sparked hostility.
However, it cannot be excluded that this was an assassination effort involving his position in the Russian arms industry. Although there was no authoritative information linking the attack with Ukraine, akin cases were previously attributed to Ukrainian services. The unsub has inactive not been stopped, and the investigation continues.
It is worth noting that the attack on Andrei Kondratev occurs at a time erstwhile the Russian arms manufacture is under considerable force from global sanctions. According to Rosstat data, the production of the arms manufacture in Russia decreased by 12% in 2022 compared to the erstwhile year. On the another hand, as the Institute of economical Studies of the University of Kiev states, Ukraine increased its defence spending by 25% in 2022, which may indicate an increase in the request for arms and military equipment.
The attack on Andrei Kondratev may besides affect the safety of the Russian arms industry. According to the national safety Service (FSB), in 2022 15 cases of sabotage were reported in Russian weapons manufacture facilities, which may indicate an increased threat from enemy forces.
It is worth noting that Russia is 1 of the largest arms producers in the world, and its arms manufacture employs hundreds of thousands of people. According to SIPRI, Russia exported US$ 10.6 billion in 2020, representing 20% of all arms exports worldwide. On the another hand, according to the Stockholm global Peace Institute, Russia is besides 1 of the largest arms importers, with an import worth $2.6 billion in 2020.
The conclusions of the attack on Andrei Kondratev are inactive hard to deduce, but it is clear that the Russian arms manufacture is under considerable force from global sanctions and increased request for arms and military equipment. The attack may besides affect the safety of the Russian arms industry, which may lead to further changes in Russia's safety policy.
