Russia is bringing African women into the country to use them in building drones. However, the women are promised an adventure.
Moscow – drones play in Ukraine war a very big role. Be it for Reconnaissance or destruction – both sides rely on unmanned aircraft. Russia can hardly keep up with the production of war drones and relies on workers from Africa, the news agency reports Associated Press (AP) in a report. This is being advertised on social media. The young African women are promised a free plane ticket, money and a distant adventure in Europe. All she would have to do is complete a computer game and a Russian vocabulary test with 100 words.
In a video titled “Work and Travel,” women are promised “comfort” in their accommodation. The women also have the opportunity to pursue a career. There is also the opportunity for sports and leisure activities. After 6 months, the young African women should have the opportunity to travel through Russia’s beautiful nature.
African women land in steppe of Russia
Instead of the promised work-study in areas such as hospitality and catering, those affected ended up in the steppe of the Russian region of Tatarstan. There they learned that they would be working in a war weapons factory, assembling thousands of Iranian-designed attack drones that would be deployed in the Ukraine should be used. The young women come from countries such as Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, South Sudan, Sierra Leone and Nigeria as well as the South Asian country of Sri Lanka. According to AP information, around 200 African women now worked alongside Russian vocational students aged 16 at the plant in the Alabuga special economic zone in Tatarstan, which is around 1,000 kilometers east of Moscow.
African women in Russia are promised $620 or more
Analyzed for their research AP Satellite images of the complex and internal documents, spoke to half a dozen African women who landed there and tracked down hundreds of videos in the online recruitment program Alabuga Start to understand life at the factory. Advertisements on social media promise women 60,000 rubles (about $620) or more.
Poor working conditions for African women in Russia
The working conditions are also very poor, the report says. An African woman reported a lack of protective clothing, adding that the chemicals made her face feel like it was being pricked with tiny needles and left “little holes” on her cheeks that itched badly. Other African women also suffered.
The program originally promised recruits $700 per month, but subsequent social media posts put the amount at “over $500.” One worker reported that accommodation, airfare, medical care and Russian lessons were deducted from her salary. The rest can only be used to pay for essentials such as the bus ride.
Another African woman said that they were being “battered and enslaved like donkeys,” pointing out that this was due to the banking sanctions against Russia it was difficult to send money home. However, another factory worker said she was able to send up to $150 a month to her family.
Russia and Ukraine are increasingly relying on their own drones
Increased export restrictions on drones and drone components have been in effect in China since September. Until now, both war opponents had relied heavily on partially converted Chinese drones, especially for close-range reconnaissance. Therefore, both Kiev and Moscow are now placing particular emphasis on further developing their own drones. Putin said that 48 more production facilities for drone construction should be built in the country by 2030. He demanded that Russia must become independent from foreign countries in this area.
The Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky For its part, in August it once again confirmed its previously stated goal of producing at least one million drones. “And there will be more overall this year,” he emphasized. The Ukrainian army is said to have already used more drones than its Russian opponent in July. (erpe/dpa/AFP)
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