African Governments Forge New Ties with Russian Drone Production

Two African nations, Ghana and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, have inked agreements with Russia’s Alabuga Special Economic Zone, a hub connected to manufacturing attack drones used in Ukraine. These deals, signed in late October, come on the heels of British sanctions against associated entities over alleged dubious recruitment practices.

The Ukrainian Security and Cooperation Centre alleges a network that enlists young African women into Russia’s military-industrial workforce. The organization claims it has collected internal documents revealing approximately 50 African women employed at Alabuga, alongside Russian and African recruiters.

Internal Documentation

Solomiya Khoma, head of international cooperation at the center, shared insights in an interview. She explained that the investigation aimed to understand recruitment operations involving Russian cultural organizations and local intermediaries. The targeted network operates on three levels: fostering relationships through cultural organizations in Africa, promoting opportunities abroad via recruiters, and arranging employment and travel logistics.

Two women from Tunisia and Uganda are named as coordinators, linked with Russian HR personnel. The investigation relies partly on confidential sources within Alabuga, which prevents disclosure of specific identities.

A satellite image from June 2023 suggests planned UAV manufacturing at Alabuga, indicating potential Russian-Iranian cooperation.

Khoma pointed out that some African recruits expect educational opportunities that don’t materialize, leading them to factory work due to failed examinations or language barriers.

Global Scrutiny

The recruitment practices have caught international attention. The UK sanctioned seven entities connected to Alabuga on May 5, 2026, accusing them of misleading foreign workers for military drone production.

Despite this, cooperation endures. Ghana’s Labor Minister, Emmanuel Agyekum, signed a deal to facilitate industrial jobs for Ghanaians. The Democratic Republic of the Congo has a similar memorandum focused on vocational training.

Khoma advocates for targeted sanctions on recruitment networks, suggesting that Russia’s reliance on foreign workers highlights labor shortages in its war economy.

Without these workers, she argues, sustaining a prolonged conflict would be challenging.

Fox News reached out to Alabuga and other government representatives for comments. The investigations and ongoing international scrutiny underscore the complex dynamics between Russia and African countries in the context of labor recruitment for military purposes.