Russia is actively recruiting women from Africa and South Asia to work in factories producing Iranian-designed attack drones for use in Ukraine, according to a report by AP. The recruitment drive, aimed at filling urgent labor shortages in wartime Russia, has put key weapons production in the hands of about 200 inexperienced African women.
The Alabuga Special Economic Zone, located about 1,000 kilometers east of Moscow, has become a central hub for drone production. The facility, which expanded rapidly after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, aims to produce 6,000 Shahed-136 drones annually by 2025, according to leaked documents cited by the Washington-based Institute for Science and International Security.
AP says women aged 18-22 from countries such as Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, South Sudan, Sierra Leone, and Nigeria are being recruited through social media campaigns promising European adventure and work-study programs. However, upon arrival in Russia’s Tatarstan region, many discover they will be working in a weapons factory.
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The recruitment process involves completing a computer game and a 100-word Russian vocabulary test. The Alabuga Start program uses slickly edited videos on social media to portray an appealing work environment, showing African women visiting cultural sites and engaging in various activities.
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However, the reality for many workers is starkly different, AP says. They face constant surveillance in their dormitories and at work, long hours, and lower pay than expected. Some workers report handling caustic substances without proper protective gear, leading to skin irritation and other health issues.
Human Rights Watch has criticized Russia for not fully explaining the nature of the work to foreign recruits. The leaked documents also reveal that the assembly lines are segregated, with a derogatory term used to refer to African workers, AP says.
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The Alabuga factory was hit by a Ukrainian drone attack in April, injuring at least 12 workers. Despite this, the Russian recruitment efforts continue, with the program expanding to Latin America and other parts of Asia.
Uganda’s Minister for Gender, Labor and Social Development, Betty Amongi, expressed concerns about the recruitment efforts, particularly regarding the age of the women involved and their potential exploitation.
Related:
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- Russians launch over 90 aerial weapons at Ukraine, two missiles and 56 drones downed
- Ukraine repels massive Russian drone attack, shoots down 78 Shaheds
- Ukraine downs Russia’s Starlink-equipped Shahed-136 suicide drone
- Ukraine’s National Resistance Center: Russian teens to manufacture 10,000 Shahed drones annually
- Ukrainian intel: No Western weapons used in Russia’s Tatarstan attack
- Another oil refinery targeted in Russia’s Tatarstan by drones
- Shahed factory in Tatarstan hit, says Ukrainian intel, yet satellite images show no damage
