A third shopping mall in Izhevsk will be repurposed for drone production. The shopping and entertainment center "Stolitsa" has been acquired by the company "Aeroscan," which has already established drone production in the shopping center mall "Italmas." The "Udmurtia against corruption" project reported this on September 15.
The shopping and entertainment complex "Stolitsa" in Izhevsk has been purchased by the "Aeroscan" company for drone production. Tenants of "Stolitsa" have been notified of contract terminations and are required to vacate the premises by October 15. This two-story complex used to house a movie theater, cafes, and stores.
Previously, the shopping and entertainment center "Italmas" in Izhevsk had also been acquired by "Aeroscan." In September, the "Izhevsk Unmanned Systems" enterprise began to operate in the "Novy Dom" shopping center.
In winter 2023, the shopping and entertainment center "Italmas" in Izhevsk closed, as the new owner intended to repurpose the place for drone production. Local residents gathered over 5,000 signatures against the new production and sent petitions to Vladimir Putin and Sergei Shoigu. However, the Udmurtia government did not take steps to prevent placing drone production within a shopping mall located among high-rise buildings.
The new owners forcibly evicted one of the tenants, the Izhevskiye Termy recreation complex, by cutting off electricity and blocking access to the locker room. Visitors were evacuated following a fake bomb threat. Eventually, the complex was expelled from the mall without compensation, though they were allowed to retrieve their equipment.
Local people associate "Izhevsk Unmanned Systems" and "Aeroscan" with Kalashnikov Concern.
