From hope to exploitation: Africans caught in Russia’s Alabuga scheme

Global turmoil often brings ripple effects in unexpected forms. For Africa, a conflict in Europe can have direct and devastating consequences for communities across the continent. One lesser-explored dimension of this is human trafficking.

Every year, many Africans are trafficked to foreign countries under the guise of work or study opportunities. What initially appears to be a promising path to a better future can quickly turn into a nightmare of exploitation, forced labor, or even unwitting involvement in armed conflicts—often without the individual’s full understanding or consent.

In late April 2025, Interpol’s Botswana bureau confirmed an investigation into the controversial youth employment initiative known as the Alabuga Start programme —specifically targeting human-trafficking allegations linked to Alabuga Start’s recruitment of African women for drone assembly work in Tatarstan’s Special Economic Zone. The probe aims to determine whether the program serves as a deceptive front, coercing vulnerable women into hazardous labor supporting military drone production.

An investigation by The Citizen reveals that the Russian program, which targets young people, especially from developing countries including parts of Africa, is raising alarms among human rights groups, governments, and international agencies.

Marketed as a work-study or training opportunity, the programme promises paid internships, free accommodation, and Russian language lessons.

However, growing concerns from civil society organizations and family members of the alleged victims suggests that many recruits, particularly young women, are instead deployed in the assembly of military drones used in the Ukraine conflict.

Recruitment under the guise of opportunity

In recent months, recruiters have travelled to countries such as Botswana, Uganda, Mozambique, and Ethiopia, holding flashy campus events and circulating job advertisements that depict the programme as a stepping stone into the tech industry.

Prospective applicants were told they would be trained in modern engineering techniques, receive monthly pay of up to $860, and live in subsidised hostels at the Alabuga Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Tatarstan, Russia.

But according to reports by Bloomberg and international NGOs, the reality on the ground has been starkly different. Many of the estimated 350 young recruits, mostly women aged between 18 and 22, have found themselves working long hours assembling Shahed-136 drones—known in Russia as Geran-2—with little of the promised educational support.

Authorities in Russia are now reportedly planning to recruit at least 8,500 more workers under the programme by the end of the year.

Disguised as training centres

Although the Russian government denies that the programme is linked to military activity, satellite imagery, leaked documents, and first-hand accounts reveal that Alabuga SEZ is a major hub for drone production. Before the war in Ukraine, the facility primarily produced civilian goods.

Today, nearly 90 percent of Alabuga Start participants are said to be directly involved in building drones, with insiders confirming that the zone’s goal of producing 4,500 drones by late 2024 was met by rapidly expanding its labour force using foreign and local youth.

Vocational students from Alabuga Polytechnic—some as young as 16—were reportedly already being used in drone assembly before the foreign recruits arrived.

Those who refused the assignments allegedly faced threats of expulsion or fines. Similar pressures are now being placed on international recruits, many of whom feel trapped.

Militarising education

The Alabuga initiative has also been embedded within Russia’s domestic education system. Promotional videos from the Alabuga Polytechnic show students digging trenches labelled “fascists” or participating in paintball games under the guise of patriotic education. Interviews with students reveal they are being taught that their role is to "repel provocation" and defend Russia.

Recent reports indicate that the programme no longer even tries to maintain the façade of academic enrichment. Ads now clearly describe the jobs as factory work, and some students have been told they would be required to repay training costs if they try to leave.

International outcry

Governments across Africa and international law enforcement agencies are growing increasingly wary.

In April 2025, Interpol in Botswana launched an investigation into the programme over possible human trafficking violations, after it emerged that several recruits were misled about the nature of their employment.

Uganda’s Minister for Gender, Labour and Social Development issued a public warning, describing the programme as a threat to young women—the most vulnerable demographic in international migration. Several universities across Africa have since cut ties with the recruiters.

Sanctions experts in the U.S. and European Union have also weighed in, warning that countries that knowingly allow their youth to participate in the programme may be indirectly supporting Russia’s sanctioned military sector.

Meanwhile, Ukraine has targeted drone facilities in Alabuga with its own long-range drones, raising further safety concerns for the young workers employed there.

Broader strategic shift

Analysts see the expansion of Alabuga Start as part of a broader Kremlin strategy to overcome domestic labour shortages caused by war mobilisation and emigration. By attracting foreign recruits—many of whom are unaware of the military implications—the Russian government is not only bolstering its industrial base but also seeking to internationalise support for its war economy.

Rights groups argue that such exploitation of migrant youth under false pretenses could amount to forced labour or modern-day slavery.

“This is not just an ethical issue. It’s a question of legality, safety, and transparency,” one NGO researcher told Bloomberg.

What this means for Africa

For countries like Tanzania and others in East Africa, the unfolding story serves as a cautionary tale. It underscores the need for stronger migration oversight, youth employment safeguards, and international cooperation to protect citizens from being lured into conflict zones under false pretenses.

As pressure mounts globally, African governments may be forced to rethink their engagement with such foreign recruitment programmes—particularly those shrouded in secrecy and linked to military production.

Editor’s Note: This story is based on extensive reporting by Bloomberg, international media outlets, and human rights groups. Allegations are still under investigation by relevant authorities.