Kenyan women, along with other young African women, have been recruited under false pretenses to work in Russian drone factories, particularly in the Alabuga Special Economic Zone in Tatarstan.
Initially promised educational opportunities and hospitality-related jobs, they found themselves assembling Iranian-designed Shahed drones intended for use in the Ukraine conflict.
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The program, known as “Alabuga Start,” targeted women aged 18–22 from countries including Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, and Nigeria, as well as Sri Lanka and parts of Latin America.
Exploitative Conditions and Deceptive Practices
Upon arrival, recruits were subjected to stringent surveillance, including facial recognition access to dormitories, constant monitoring, and restrictions on personal communication.
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They were taught to assemble drones and apply caustic chemicals without adequate protective gear, leading to skin irritation and health issues.
Promises of monthly wages around $700 were unfulfilled; instead, workers received less than $500, with deductions for accommodation, airfare, medical care, and language classes.
Some workers reported being “maltreated like donkeys” and struggled to send money home due to banking sanctions.
International Response and Ongoing Concerns
Following an Associated Press investigation, major tech companies like Google, Meta, and TikTok removed social media accounts associated with the Alabuga Start program for violating policies on human exploitation and trafficking.
However, similar recruitment efforts continue on platforms like Telegram. Human rights organizations have expressed concern over potential human trafficking and exploitation, though Russian authorities have not responded to inquiries regarding the workers’ complaints.
This situation highlights significant human rights violations and underscores the need for international scrutiny and intervention to protect vulnerable workers from exploitation and trafficking.
Summary of the situation
Recruitment and Deception:
- Around 200 African women, including some from Kenya, were reportedly recruited through online job advertisements, often promising educational scholarships and good salaries.
- The women were told they would be participating in work-study programs in fields like hospitality, but upon arrival, they were allegedly forced to work in drone manufacturing.
Conditions in the Factory:
- The factory is located in the Alabuga Special Economic Zone in Tatarstan, Russia, about 1,000 kilometers east of Moscow.
- The women are closely monitored and reportedly face restrictions on their movement and communication, essentially preventing them from leaving the facility or country.
- They work long hours under constant surveillance and face occupational health and safety violations, including exposure to caustic chemicals without proper protective gear.
- Some women reported lower wages than promised, and difficulties in sending money home due to banking sanctions.
Concerns and Investigations:
- The Business & Human Rights Resource Centre invited social media companies like Meta, Telegram, and TikTok to respond to these reports and disclose whether they had identified the “Alabuga Start” scheme being advertised on their platforms.
- The Kenyan government has also been urged to investigate the recruitment practices and ensure the safety and well-being of its citizens working abroad.
In summary, some Kenyan women, along with others from Africa, were reportedly lured to work in a Russian drone factory through deceptive online recruitment tactics. They now face exploitative working conditions and limited freedom of movement.
