Russian Manufacturer of Shahed Drones Invests in Video Games to Recruit Young People

The Russian special economic zone Alabuga, where Shahed drones are manufactured, has invested millions in video games used to recruit young people.

One such game is ‘Battle of the Drones: Ukraine,’ a turn-based strategy game. It has become one of the tools used to attract students to Alabuga’s programs.

According to Meduza, the patent for the game was registered by Timur Shagivaleev, the CEO of the Alabuga Special Economic Zone.

Alabuga management uses the game to attract young people through the Stalin’s Falcons project. Job openings for engineers and pilots of Shahed/Geran drones are posted on its website.

In late April, the Higher School of Economics hosted a drone piloting tournament organized by the Stalin’s Falcons project.

To participate in the competition, contestants had to pass a preliminary selection round in the Milcon TonsoBattle of the Drones: Ukraine game and win a one-on-one match in real time while playing as Russia.

As of July 2026, over 41,000 accounts had been registered in the game.

The game has also become a key part of the DroneCon cyber tournaments held in Tatarstan with the support of Alabuga and the Stalin’s Falcons project.

The total prize pool for these competitions amounts to nearly three million rubles.

To qualify for the tournament, participants undergo training in the Battle of the Drones simulator, which is used as part of their preparation.

In the Alabuga Special Economic Zone in Tatarstan, drones have been assembled since 2023 based on Iranian Shahed drones, which Russia uses to strike Ukrainian cities. The Alabuga complex includes the Alabuga Polytech college, where students are involved in assembling drones.

In the spring of 2026, Alabuga, together with the Alabuga Polytech college, launched an advertising campaign in which teenagers talk about earning money by assembling drones, promoting employment at the company.