Drone factory in Yelabuga

A plant for manufacturing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs or drones) is located in the Alabuga Special Economic Zone, near Yelabuga, Tatarstan, Russia, built with materials provided by Iran. It could produce a steady supply of drones for use in Russia's war against Ukraine.[1] While the plant was under development, Iranians supplied UAVs for Russia to use in the war.[2][3][4][5] The factory opened in July 2023.[6]

In August 2023, it was reported that the factory has recruited young students of Yelabuga Polytechnic College as workers, some as young as 15. In interviews, parents of the students mentioned that children were forced to work exceedingly long hours, often without proper breaks or meals, under hostile conditions that have deeply affected their mental health and that staff from the school had instructed students not to tell their parents about the drone assembly work. Political indoctrination activities are common.[7]

See also

References
  1. "White House says Iran is helping Russia build a drone factory east of Moscow for the war in Ukraine". Sun Sentinel. 2023-06-09. Retrieved 2023-06-10.
  2. Warrick, Joby (2023-06-09). "Iran seeks 'billions' worth of Russian aircraft and weapons in exchange for drones, U.S. says". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2023-06-10.
  3. Barnes, Julian E.; Koettl, Christoph (2023-06-09). "A drone factory that Iran is helping Russia build could be operational next year, the U.S. says". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 2023-06-10. Retrieved 2023-06-10.
  4. Holland, Jeff Mason and Steve (2023-06-10). "Iranians suspected to be helping Russia build a drone factory for use in war on Ukraine". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2023-06-10.
  5. "Iran helping Russia build drone factory near Moscow for Ukraine war: White House". Al Arabiya English. 2023-06-09. Archived from the original on 2023-06-09. Retrieved 2023-06-10.
  6. Seddon, Max; Cook, Chris; Stognei, Anastasia; Schwartz, Felicia (2023-07-06). "Russia deploys 'Albatross' made in Iran-backed drone factory". Financial Times. Retrieved 2023-07-06.
  7. "A Russian Factory Is Using Underage Workers To Assemble Iranian 'Suicide' Drones Destined For Ukraine". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 2023-08-13. Retrieved 2023-10-16.


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