South Africa questions Russia over suspected exploitation of young recruits

Russia has expanded efforts to recruit young African women, including in South Africa, to address its domestic labour shortages, sparking concern that many are being funnelled into the war effort in Ukraine.

A key recruiter is the Alabuga Special Economic Zone in Tatarstan, a hub for military drone production, Bloomberg reports.

South Africa’s government has opened an investigation into the activities of Russian companies, with officials considering summoning Russian diplomats for explanations.

The recruitment push gained traction in early 2025, when the South African branch of the BRICS Women’s Business Alliance signed an agreement to supply over 5,600 workers to Alabuga and another Russian company, Etalonstroi Ural. Job ads targeted women aged 18–22, promoted through social media influencers and school visits, offering free flights and salaries of up to $800 a month.

Supporters of the program, including alliance chair Lebogang Zulu, argue that Russia needs workers while South Africa faces a youth unemployment rate above 30%. But reports from the Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS) and the Global Initiative Against Transnational Crime allege that many women end up assembling Shahed-136 kamikaze drones under misleading promises. According to ISIS, about 90% of recruits are redirected to drone assembly, with some exposed to danger as Ukraine has repeatedly targeted the facility, most recently on August 9.

Local officials and recruiters deny that workers are being placed in drone plants, saying the program offers legitimate employment opportunities. Still, students in Soweto told Bloomberg they were courted with promotional materials and signed up through WhatsApp links without being informed of possible drone factory assignments.

South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation said it is monitoring the situation but has yet to find solid evidence of wrongdoing, though it has noted the growing reports. Meanwhile, the Women’s Ministry distanced itself from the alliance, saying it is not formally affiliated with the organisation.

Initially focused on poorer African nations like Burkina Faso and Ethiopia, Alabuga has now expanded recruitment to Southern Africa, aiming for more than 8,000 workers by 2025. Similar recruitment drives have been seen in Botswana and Lesotho, where local leaders have promoted the program as a path to education and empowerment, though parents have expressed concern about safety and transparency.

Experts warn that many young women, driven by poverty and limited opportunities, arrive in Russia to find conditions vastly different from what they were promised.

By Tamilla Hasanova