Russian military and intelligence operatives have actively recruited vulnerable young migrant women from Latin America under false pretenses, bringing them to Russia to work in the clandestine manufacture of Iranian-designed drones. These drones are produced inside special industrial facilities such as the Alabuga Special Economic Zone and Angarsk industrial area, locations known for secretive and high-tech manufacturing. The recruits face exploitation and trafficking, coerced to contribute to Iran’s unmanned aerial vehicle production that is supplied to Russia. This operation reveals a novel dimension of Russia’s hybrid warfare strategy through human trafficking combined with the expansion of Iranian drone technology production on Russian soil. It underlines the growing military partnership between Russia and Iran amidst Russia’s ongoing conflicts, leveraging migrant exploitation and covert industrial collaboration. This recruitment and production pipeline potentially feeds into Russian drone deployment in conflict zones, implicating broader geopolitical consequences and human rights abuses.
Category: Military & Paramilitary Operations
Subcategory: Unconventional / Paramilitary
Incident Type: Use of ‘little green men’ (unmarked soldiers)
Country: Russia
Source report: www.fdd.org/analysis/…
