russia is preparing to bring in up to 12,000 North Korean laborers to work at enterprises within the Alabuga Special Economic Zone in Tatarstan by the end of 2025, according to reports from Ukraine's Defense Intelligence. The move signals another step in the deepening partnership between Moscow and Pyongyang as both regimes seek to reinforce their positions amid international isolation.
The Alabuga zone has gained notoriety for its role in producing long-range Shaded/Geran-type drones, which the russian army routinely uses to conduct terrorist attacks on civilian infrastructure across Ukraine. The introduction of thousands of imported workers is expected to expand production capacity, further enabling russia's drone campaign.
Read more: Against Shaheds and KABs: Ukraine to Be the First in the World to Test Whether One Operator Can Control 100 Drones
In late October, the russian foreign ministry hosted a meeting between regional officials and representatives of the North Korean company Jihyang Technology Trade Company. The firm is responsible for recruiting and supplying North Korean laborers abroad, often under conditions described by human rights organizations as exploitative and tightly controlled.
During these discussions, russian authorities reportedly outlined the terms under which the foreign workforce would be employed. According to intelligence data, workers from North Korea are being promised wages of approximately 2.5 USD per hour, while labor shifts are expected to last at least 12 hours.
The planned deployment of North Korean laborers illustrates the extent to which russia is seeking manpower to sustain and escalate its weapons production. Domestic industries have faced shortages as the Kremlin diverts resources toward its war effort, prompting Moscow to look for external sources of cheap and compliant labor.
The reliance on imported labor to expand drone manufacturing also reflects the Kremlin's determination to maintain its long-range strike campaign against Ukrainian cities. By outsourcing part of its industrial workforce, russia aims to accelerate production of the weapons it uses to terrorize civilian populations.
As Defense Express previously reported, a powerful explosion struck near the settlement of Sosnovka in russia's Khabarovsk Krai on November 13, temporarily blocking freight traffic along the strategically vital Trans-Siberian Railway.
The incident disrupted one of the key logistical arteries used by the aggressor state to move weapons and ammunition, including supplies transferred from North Korea. The derailment represents a significant interruption to a route that Moscow heavily relies on to support its military operations.
Read more: Blast on the Trans-Siberian Line Interrupts Flow of North Korean Munitions (Video)
