Malawian authorities are examining reports that young women from the country may be among those recruited into Russia’s Alabuga industrial complex, where foreign trainees have allegedly been forced to produce combat drones used in the war against Ukraine.

The Alabuga Start programme has come under international scrutiny following investigations by the news agency Bloomberg and Russian investigative outlet Protokol, which reported that women from African and Asian countries offered scholarships and technical training ended up working in Shahed drone assembly plants under restricted conditions. Moscow has denied allegations of forced labour.

The Human Rights Watch (HRW) Southern Africa office said it is currently verifying whether Malawian nationals are among those affected. “We have requested our partner office that monitors the Russian conflict with Ukraine to provide details of what you are asking for,” HRW Senior Africa Researcher Idriss Ali Nassah said, as quoted by The Nyasa Times,  noting the organisation will only comment publicly once its internal investigation is complete.

Civil society organisations in Malawi are pressing for answers. Human Rights Consultative Committee (HRCC) Chairperson Robert Mkwezalamba said the group has already approached government ministries. “We have discussed this with responsible ministers, but it appears even the government is not aware that some Malawian girls are trapped in a drone-making factory,” he said.

Parliamentarians are preparing to raise the issue formally, according to legislative sources cited by The Nyasa Times. Lawmakers are expected to ask how the recruits were identified, who facilitated their travel, and what mechanisms exist to prevent similar cases. Local commentary has linked the case to wider calls for tighter oversight of labour migration and overseas work schemes.

Labour rights advocate Benedicto Kondowe said the situation underscores the need for state-to-state labour agreements to reduce exploitation risks. “We need a system where labour deals are conducted strictly between governments… This ensures accountability, transparency, and the safety of Malawians abroad,” he is quoted as saying, referring to the recent Malawi–Israel labour export arrangement.

The situation is diplomatically sensitive. Malawi voted to condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine at the UN, yet maintains pragmatic bilateral ties with Moscow, including receiving 20,000 tonnes of fertiliser in 2023. Ukraine has also supported Malawi, sending 14,500 tonnes of maize in 2024 to help address El Niño-related shortages.

Other Southern African governments — including Botswana, Namibia and South Africa — have begun tracing nationals linked to Alabuga, in some cases working with their embassies and Interpol. Bloomberg has reported that Interpol Botswana has opened an inquiry into recruitment networks.

According to Protokol, the Alabuga facility has recruited around 350 women from 40 countries since 2022, including 182 from African and Asian states. The outlet lists two Malawian women, 46 from Uganda, and smaller numbers from Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Sudan, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe, among others.