Russia Targets South African Women for Drone Factory Work

In South Africa, Russia is actively recruiting young women to work in a factory producing strike drones, forcing the government to warn citizens and showing how the Kremlin exploits international structures and vulnerable populations for military purposes.

The Gaze reports on it, referring to the Center for Countering Disinformation on Facebook.

“Russia's recruitment of young women in South Africa for a factory producing strike drones has reached such proportions that the government of that country has been forced to respond publicly and warn its citizens about the danger,” the report says.

The Russian special economic zone “Alabuga” has launched an active advertising campaign aimed at attracting workers from African and Asian countries, promising them high salaries and prospects for rapid career growth. 

Beneath these promises, the reality is stark: the work involves a military factory producing drones intended for combat operations against Ukraine.

The Kremlin is extending its influence by using BRICS forums and networks as avenues to recruit personnel.  

In other words, an international organization that Russia is trying to position as an instrument of economic development and peaceful cooperation is, in fact, becoming part of its military ambitions and is being used to achieve military goals.

This shows that the Kremlin sees Africa primarily as a source of resources and labor. Despite its rhetoric about “fighting colonialism” and opposing the West, Russia is “reproducing colonial practices by exploiting vulnerable populations in African states.”

As The Gaze reported earlier, Russia demands that the Central African Republic replace mercenaries from the private military company Wagner with the African Corps and pay for their services in cash instead of minerals.