Russia’s Yaroslavl Shipyard which Builds Landing and Patrol Vessels Stops Paying Workers

In Yaroslavl, a shipyard working for the Russian Ministry of Defense has gone nearly two months without paying its workers.

According to The Moscow Times, the workers themselves shared this information.

They say payments stopped at the end of September. As a result, many workshops halted operations, and employees were placed on forced leave. Management has promised several times to resume wage payments, but the situation remains unclear.

Workers say their complaints to the labor inspectorate have produced no results. Responses indicated that the tax service had frozen the plant’s accounts over unpaid taxes. The plant claims the delay is due to pending funds from the Russian Ministry of Defense.

Workers also report persistent, conflicting rumors about when wages will resume — ranging from “tomorrow” to “December 1.” There have been no mass layoffs, but some employees are taking vacation, sick leave, or suspending work under Article 142 of the Russian Labor Code.

The plant builds vessels with displacements of up to 3,500 tons, including landing, patrol, and guard ships. In May 2024, it delivered a Project 02221 raiding boat to the Russian Pacific Fleet.

Yaroslavl Shipbuilding Plant has been under international sanctions since 2019 for its work with Russia’s defense sector. After Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the United States and the European Union tightened restrictions. The company is also on sanctions lists maintained by Canada, Switzerland, Ukraine, and Japan.