Putin’s war machine tied to troubling recruitment of young women as new deals emerge

Ghana and the Democratic Republic of the Congo signed agreements with Russia’s Alabuga Special Economic Zone, which is linked to attack drone production. The deals have renewed concerns that recruitment of foreign workers could help Russia maintain production as its war against Ukraine continues.

A Ukrainian research group says internal documents identify about 50 African women working at Alabuga, as well as 10 Russian recruiters and two African intermediaries. It alleges that recruitment runs through cultural and educational organisations, local contacts and Alabuga staff, with some women promised education and civilian jobs before being assigned factory work. The allegations about the named coordinators have not been independently verified, and the investigation does not establish that Russian cultural organisations or diplomats knowingly directed recruits into drone production. Britain sanctioned people and entities associated with Alabuga Start over deceptive recruitment practices.