According to the French newspaper Le Monde, Russia’s “Alabuga Start” programme is expanding beyond African and Asian countries to target young women in Latin America. The programme attracts women to Russia by promising training and job opportunities in fields such as tourism and logistics.
However, Le Monde’s investigation found that some of these women are employed at facilities in the city of Alabuga in the Republic of Tatarstan, assembling Iranian-made Shahed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) used by Russia in its war against Ukraine. In Russia, these UAVs are being developed domestically under the names “Geran-2” and “Geran-3”.
The impact of labour shortages and sanctions
Le Monde reported that the Alabuga special economic zone has become Russia’s main centre for unmanned aerial vehicle production since 2022. Local labour shortages and the impact of Western sanctions have pushed officials and companies linked to the programme to seek foreign workers.
From 2024 onward, large-scale promotional campaigns were launched on social media in Latin America. Using AI-generated content and collaborations with local influencers, the programme was marketed as an opportunity for migration and employment.
Promises and reality
The programme offers young women attractive promises, including salaries of more than $500 a month, low-cost housing, coverage of travel expenses to Russia, social benefits and job stability.
However, accounts from former female workers who came from Africa paint a different picture. The women described alleged abuses including harsh working conditions, exhausting working hours, exposure to hazardous chemicals, restrictions on their freedom of movement and the confiscation of their passports when they wanted to leave.
Russia’s strategy in Latin America
Le Monde reported that Moscow views the “Alabuga Start” programme not only as a way to provide labour for its military factories but also as part of a broader strategy to increase its influence in Latin America, where it competes with U.S. influence.
Analysts believe that Russia’s success in attracting workers from geographically distant countries reflects the influence of its media and political networks, which also draw on historical ties dating back to the Cold War.
The report also highlights that Russia’s influence in the region is not limited to industry, noting reports that Cubans were sent to the Donbas front to take part in the war in Ukraine.
Expert views
Experts say that propaganda disseminated through Russian Spanish-language media outlets such as Sputnik and Russia Today, along with networks of local influencers, is helping improve Russia’s image among some sections of Latin American societies.
Some researchers, however, question the long-term sustainability of this strategy. They argue that Russia is no longer a former superpower and that its reliance on expanding influence operations is an attempt to compensate for the decline of its traditional capabilities.
According to Le Monde’s analysis, the “Alabuga Start” programme combines economic, military and propaganda objectives. It provides Moscow with cheap labour for unmanned aerial vehicle production while also creating a tool to strengthen its political presence beyond its borders.
