Russia is actively recruiting women from poor countries to work in its drone manufacturing plants. In particular, in South Africa, Russia used the BRICS structure for recruitment.

 

According to intelligence reports, Russia is actively recruiting workers for drone production in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. The center of this program is the Alabuga special economic zone in Tatarstan. Young women from poor countries are promised high salaries and career growth, but are not told that the work involves assembling strike drones, which are then launched against Ukraine.

 

In 2024, women from 44 countries, including Mozambique, Colombia, Mali, and Sri Lanka, participated in the Start program. The goal for 2025 is to attract participants from 77 countries.

 

Russia recruiting South African women for drone factories through BRICS

  

The recruitment of foreigners is due to a labour shortage in Russia due to mobilization, a demographic decline, and restrictions on labour migration from Central Asia.

Alabuga is constructing housing for 41,000 people. Over 90% of participants in the Start program already work in this sector.

Is that like Thais working Ag in Israel? 

Quote

according to the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine.

 

So how do we know these are not just lies put out by the Ukrainians?

3 minutes ago, rice555 said:

Is that like Thais working Ag in Israel? 

Not at all.

Thais are there for agriculture.

Putin is recruiting workers for his coalition of the KILLING.

2 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Not at all.

Thais are there for agriculture.

Putin is recruiting workers for his coalition of the KILLING.

 

According to the UKrainian intelligence services, who have a record of lying without shame. So probably just lies.

Sounds like jealousy. 

 

I'd bet a few expats in Thailand would jump at that chance, too. They just didn't get the invite

 

 

On 8/27/2025 at 3:46 PM, bannork said:

Russia is actively recruiting women from poor countries to work in its drone manufacturing plants

 

 They're taking our girls!!!

South African woman admits she was involved in human trafficing from South Africa to Tatarstan

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4gljnn0wwlo

 

This is related to the Alabuga Start Programme that encourages Africans and South Americans to go work in the Alabuga Economic Zone

 

https://startworld.alabuga.ru/

 

The South African Government is investigating claims that the South African branch of the BRICS Student Commission has signed a contract with the Russian company Etalonstroy Ural , to supply 5600 workers. 

 

AP conducted an investigation, including witness testomony, looking into the use of African and other nationalities, women in drone prodution. This lead to X.com, Meta, Google, TikTok banning the Alabuga Start Programme from their platforms, since social media is an important recruitment tool.

 

Further  there are efforts to recruit underage Kyrgyzstan school children to come work building drones because "Russia needs you".

 

https://gdb.rferl.org/1b6a43e2-26c8-4d34-9b8d-3f36deb4f913_w650_r1_s.jpg

 

Russian journalist emigres based in Latvia broke a story about how children were involved in Russian drone production

https://meduza.io/en/news/2025/07/21/russian-state-tv-touts-boys-and-girls-assembling-attack-drones-bound-for-ukraine