Russia’s Push to Recruit South African Women Triggers Probe
One company has a military drone factory and the government has started an investigation.
An aerial view of the Alabuga Special Economic Zone in 2022.
Photographer: Collection Maykova/ShutterstockRussian companies are widening their campaign to find young African women to help fill a labor shortage, heightening concern many are being deployed in Moscow’s war effort in Ukraine.
The latest drive is in South Africa, a fellow member of the BRICS block of large emerging market economies. One of the main recruiters, Alabuga Special Economic Zone in Tatarstan, produces military drones. South Africa’s government is now investigating what Russian companies are doing and what their intentions are, a person familiar with the situation said.