Young African Women Misled into Drone Production Jobs in Russia

:Discover how young African women are being misled into drone production jobs in Russia, facing exploitation and false promises of better opportunities.

In a bid for a better future, young African women were lured by social media ads promising free plane tickets, financial incentives, and the thrill of an adventure in Europe.

 The catch?

 A simple computer game and a 100-word Russian vocabulary test.

 What began as a hopeful journey soon turned into a grim reality for many who discovered, only after their arrival in Russia’s Tatarstan region, that they were destined for factory work—not the hospitality and catering careers they had envisioned.

 Instead, they found themselves assembling Iranian-designed attack drones intended for warfare in Ukraine.

Interviews with these women conducted by The Associated Press revealed a harrowing experience marked by long hours, constant surveillance, and disillusionment with broken promises regarding wages and educational opportunities.

 Some described exposure to harmful chemicals that left their skin irritated and pockmarked.

To address a pressing labor shortage amid wartime demands, the Kremlin has been recruiting women aged 18 to 22 from countries including Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, South Sudan, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, and even Sri Lanka.

 This initiative is now expanding to other parts of Asia and Latin America.

 In Tatarstan’s Alabuga Special Economic Zone, approximately 200 African women work alongside Russian vocational students, some as young as 16, in a facility crucial to Moscow’s weapons production.

One woman, who had given up her job back home for the Russian opportunity, remarked, “I don’t really know how to make drones.”

A Promising Start Turns Sour

The women arrived full of hope, documenting their journey with selfies at the airport and videos of in-flight meals, eagerly pointing to “Europe” on the in-flight map. However, upon reaching Alabuga, the grim reality set in.

 “The company is all about making drones. Nothing else,” one woman lamented as she assembled airframes. “I regret and curse the day I started making all those things.”

A clue about their grim fate could be found in the vocabulary test they were required to take, which included terms like “factory” and the verbs “to hook” and “to unhook.” The working conditions were oppressive, characterized by extensive surveillance both at their dormitories and at work.

 Their hours were long, and the wages were far lower than anticipated—an experience corroborated by three other women interviewed by AP, who remain anonymous for their safety.

Factory management reportedly seeks to deter the African workers from leaving. While some women have managed to leave or find other work in Russia, verification of these claims has proven difficult.

A Weapon Production Hub in Tatarstan

The Alabuga Special Economic Zone, established in 2006 to attract business and investment, has seen a significant shift toward military production since the onset of the Ukraine war.

 In 2022, Russia and Iran signed a $1.7 billion agreement to supply unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for combat.

 Production of these drones has moved from disassembled imports to full-scale manufacturing at Alabuga, where the goal is to produce 6,000 drones annually by 2025—an ambition that is already ahead of schedule with 4,500 units reported.

Finding labor has been a challenge. With unemployment at historic lows and many Russians already engaged in military activities or having fled abroad, Alabuga turned to vocational students and cheap foreign labor.

 Experts note that Alabuga is unique in recruiting women from Africa, Asia, and South America for weapon production, with 90% of foreign women working on drone assembly—tasks that typically require minimal skill.

Recent reports indicate that the workforce is expected to grow from under 900 employees in 2023 to over 2,600 by 2025.

 Much of this labor force is tasked with assembling drones, using chemicals, and painting the products. In the first half of the year, 182 women were recruited, primarily from Central and East African countries, through a Facebook page promoting the Alabuga Start program.

Recruiting events were even held in Uganda, targeting vulnerable groups such as orphanages.

 Although the campaign does not specify why it focuses solely on young women, some analysts suggest that this demographic may be perceived as easier to control. Leaked documents indicate that assembly lines are segregated, using derogatory language toward the African workers.

Life Under Surveillance

The foreign workers travel by bus from their dormitories to the factory, navigating multiple security checkpoints. 

The living quarters are heavily monitored, with entry controlled by facial recognition technology and round-the-clock surveillance. 

The women are prohibited from bringing personal items like pets, alcohol, or drugs. While they are issued local SIM cards, these must remain outside the factory due to its sensitive military nature.

One worker noted, “I could only talk to an AP reporter with my manager’s permission,” while others reported that their messages were monitored and that they were discouraged from discussing work with outsiders. Workers were instructed to report on their colleagues, fostering an atmosphere of mistrust.

The drone assembly process exposes workers to hazardous substances without adequate protective gear, leading to painful skin reactions. “My God, I could scratch myself! I could never get tired of scratching myself,” one woman reported, highlighting the physical toll of their labor.

In addition to chemical hazards, the complex itself was targeted in a Ukrainian drone strike in April, injuring at least 12 workers. A video shared with AP featured a Kenyan woman condemning the attackers as “barbarians,” insisting that their efforts to intimidate were futile.

A Culture of Exploitation

While one woman expressed satisfaction with her job due to the pay and the opportunity to meet new people, the majority of those interviewed had a different perspective. Initially promised $700 a month, social media posts later revised this figure to “over $500.” With deductions for accommodation, airfare, medical care, and language classes, many struggled to cover basic expenses.

The women described their treatment as “maltreated like donkeys, being slaved.” Compounded by banking sanctions against Russia, sending money home has become increasingly difficult.

 Although some managed to send back small amounts, the financial burden weighed heavily on many.

Long shifts lasting up to 12 hours with unpredictable days off became the norm. Yet, two women working in the kitchen remained hopeful, willing to endure hardships if it meant supporting their families.

Wages have been a growing concern, leading to lower morale among workers. Plant managers have expressed a desire to replace foreign workers with Russian-speaking staff, as candidates increasingly refuse low salaries.

 Russian and Central Asian students at Alabuga Polytechnic have reported being allowed to return home, while vocational students wishing to quit must repay tuition costs.

Despite repeated attempts by AP to reach the Russian Foreign Ministry and officials from Tatarstan for comment on the workers’ complaints, no responses were received. 

Human rights organizations expressed ignorance regarding the factory’s operations but noted that such recruitment practices align with Russia’s broader pattern of exploiting foreign labor.

The International Implications

Russia’s strategy has allowed for a dramatic increase in drone production capabilities. Nearly 4,000 drones were launched in Ukraine from February 2022 through 2023, with nearly double that number in the first half of this year alone.

 Despite the Alabuga plant’s production goals being met, concerns remain about the quality of the drones produced, as manufacturing issues tied to unskilled labor may lead to malfunctions.

An analysis of 2,000 Shahed drone attacks documented by Ukraine’s military reveals a troubling trend: about 95% of these drones fail to hit their intended targets. Many end up crashing into Ukraine’s fields, straying into NATO member Latvia, or falling within Russian territory.

Experts attribute this high failure rate not only to improved Ukrainian air defenses but also to the potential lack of craftsmanship stemming from a workforce that may not have the necessary training or experience.

In response to these alarming developments, the Alabuga Start recruiting campaign continues, buoyed by a polished social media presence that presents an enticing, albeit misleading, narrative. Women are drawn in by promises of opportunity and adventure, unaware that they may become unwitting participants in a machinery of war.

Keywords:African women exploitation:Drone production jobs:Russia job market:False promises:Youth employment challenges