Young African women are lured to Russia with false job promises. The Alabuga Start programme targets women from poorer nations. It offers well-paid careers via social media campaigns. Many applicants come from Nigeria, Cameroon, and Zimbabwe. They expect training in logistics or technical fields.
Instead, they face harsh realities in Alabuga SEZ, Tatarstan. Women assemble Geran-2 drones under poor conditions. Some handle dangerous chemicals, risking their health. Chinara, a Nigerian, described low wages and hard labour. She said promises of good jobs were broken.
The Global Initiative report exposed these exploitative practices. It detailed how women are misled about their roles. Some work as cleaners, others supervise drone production. Most fear reprisals for speaking out. Interviews revealed long hours and strict supervision.
Russia’s war economy drives demand for cheap labour. Alabuga SEZ expanded after the 2022 Ukraine invasion. Satellite images show new military production facilities. Over 111,000 African workers arrived in Russia in 2024. This marks a 50% rise since 2022.
Parents in Zimbabwe worry about their daughters’ safety. One mother reported her daughter’s forced labour. She mentioned restricted phone use and withheld passports. Another parent called the programme a “death trap.” Interpol is now investigating in Botswana.
Some countries, like Kenya, are probing Alabuga Start. Julia Stanyard, report co-author, called it fraudulent exploitation. Alabuga management did not respond to DW’s inquiries. The programme now targets Asia and Latin America too.
