"Alabuga" can change the course of war in Ukraine: who and how it collects thousands of drones for the Russian Federation - WSJ
In Alabuz, Russians produce unmanned apparatus using their China's components, Africa's workforce and logistics networks that Iran has honed over the years of confrontation with the West. In particular, it is about the production of Shahaned and Albatros drones. This is stated in The Wall Street Journal. As noted in the publication, Russia has turned to its key allies to increase defense production.
So, in early April, US Presidential Administration Joe Biden stated that China had provided Russian optics, microelectronics and other double -use materials that can be used in UAVs and other military equipment. In September, Ukrainian researchers also reported that Moscow was buying Shahheda drones from China, using Beijing Micropilot Uav Flight Control Systems as a supplier of Beijing Micropilot Uav Flight Control Systems.
According to the UN report from 2020, the company probably supplies engines for "Shahaneda", found at the attacks of attacks of Yemeni Khussites and Iran on Saudi Arabia oil. It is also reported that at the end of 2022 Russian businessmen visited Iran, where they concluded an agreement on the construction of a drone production plant. Moscow offered Tehran $ 1. 7 billion, which will be paid partially with gold ingots.
The authors of the article pointed out that not only Iranian technologies, but also shadow logistics networks used to use Tehran used to evade Western sanctions to the production of UAV. Many of the false companies are based in Hong Kong and Dubai. According to the US Ministry of Finance, in one of the Russian UAV projects, an Iranian Figure Company in the UAE called Generation Trading Fze was involved.
In addition, according to the Ukrainian military intelligence and the former Syrian Officer of the Ethane Conflict Group, Russian soldiers are already taught by driving drones in Syria under the guidance of instructors from the Corps of Guardians of the Islamic Revolution and Iran's supported group.
Judging by the contract between Russian factory managers and their Iranian partners, produced by the Network Hacker Group, the mentioned enterprise planned to produce 6,000 Shahheda drones for a year, as well as reconnaissance drones. According to the International Institute for Strategic Studies, at the end of April the plant ahead of the production schedule, already putting 4500 promised "Shahmed". The article also states that the Alabuga plant is made of exploration drones "M3" Albatros.
Henry Thompson also reported that the Russian Federation now produces his own warheads instead of waiting for Iranian. Initially, the production of UAV "Albatros" was engaged in the students of the surrounding technical colleges. To conduct a presentation for young students. In their agitation, the Russians used anti -colonial rhetoric, with elements of the Cold War. According to journalists, Ugandan school teachers, administrators and student leaders are also recruited.
They connect with former students who have the necessary skills when offering work in the Russian Federation. One of the recruiters Joseph Kazibwe, who works as a deputy director of the secondary school in Lubir, noted that Russians are interested in young women who have succeeded in the natural sciences. The recruiter also states that he did not know about the involvement of young people in the assembly. "Our task is to find the appropriate candidates and contact them.
After that, the Russians will fully take over the process management. They do not share their hiring criteria with us, and we do not know how and whom they eventually choose," Joseph Kazibwe said . According to the officials of Uganda, more than a thousand women from all over Africa came to Alabugu. It is also expected that another thousand students will join them this year. Women from Africa may also be seen in some photos that Alabuga publishes.
Summing up, the authors of the publication noted that the attack of Ukraine's defense forces in "Alabuz" highlighted a new important point in the Russian-Ukrainian war-the Russian Federation can increase UAV production for attacks and observation, relying on Chinese components, African labor, and Iranian technologies and logistics networks. We will remind, in August last year the parents of "Alabuga Polytechkh" students told the publication "Idel.
Realities", which in the preparation of UAV attract minors, who work for five days a week. Those who want to pick up children from college and terminate the study contract are forced to pay approximately 200,000 rubles. According to the National Resistance Center, the Kremlin "The First Movement" also recalls young people in the occupied territories of Ukraine at the Shahanedov collection plant in Alabuga.