African women deceived into forced labor manufacturing drones in Russia
More than 1,000 African women were reportedly recruited through deceptive practices into the Yelábuga Start program in Russia's Tatarstan region, promised training in hospitality but assigned instead to manufacture AI-enabled drones under dangerous conditions for lower pay. South Africa launched an investigation in August 2025 after the scheme gained international attention when South African influencers promoting the program were accused of facilitating human trafficking.
What happened
Yelábuga Start, a recruitment program targeting women aged 18 to 22 primarily from Africa, allegedly used deceptive practices to recruit women to the Yelábuga Special Economic Zone in Tatarstan, Russia. Women were promised professional training in logistics, food service, and hospitality but were instead directed to work in drone manufacturing factories on their first day.
Over 1,000 women from various parts of Africa were reportedly recruited into the program. South African influencers advertising the program were accused of promoting human trafficking.
Reported impact
Women reported being forced to work in dangerous conditions for lower wages than promised. One Sudanese woman stated: 'We received our uniforms, without knowing exactly what we were going to do. From the first day at work they took us to the drone factory. We entered and saw drones everywhere and people working.'
Index analysis
The program used official-seeming recruitment materials, including posts attributed to the South Sudanese Ministry of Higher Education on Facebook, to attract participants. Women applied through WhatsApp contact with organizers after seeing these announcements.
Governance controls
In August 2025, the South African government launched an investigation into the program and warned its citizens not to enroll. The program's operators have denied accusations of deceptive recruitment and dangerous working conditions but have not denied that some employees assisted in drone manufacturing.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.