Shahed Production Expanded to Accommodate Non-Local Workers

Russia is expanding the Shahed production complex in Yelabuga, laying the foundation for the fifth residential building for non-local workers.

This was reported by NV.ua.

According to satellite imagery, between October 2024 and June 2025, the Russians are building four new sites, and the construction of the fifth is in its early stages.

According to the author of the material, the new sites have a total area of 163 hectares and are located on the territory of the production complex.

The fifth site is currently under construction with an approximate area of 30 hectares. This area is atypical for production facilities, so it is likely that dormitories will be built on this territory to house staff directly at the production site.

In addition, this expansion may be related to the recent information from the Japanese NHK, which reported that North Korea plans to send 25,000 workers to Russia to engage in the production of attack drones.

The use of students in the production of Shahed kamikaze drones has already been confirmed. As the aggressor state plans to increase its production, it is actively looking for a new workforce to be involved in the assembly of drones.

There is also information that Russia is engaging women from African countries, including Uganda, Mali, Cameroon, Sierra Leone, Botswana, and Zimbabwe, in the assembly of Shaheds.

They are recruited with promises of training and high salaries, without disclosing the true nature of the work.

It should be noted that, despite the considerable distance, Ukraine is making attempts to disrupt the production of Iranian attack drones. For example, in late May, Ukrainian attack drones hit this facility, although the consequences remain unknown.

Earlier, it was also attacked on April 23, 2025. At that time, the Tatarstan authorities did not officially comment on the incident and kept silent about its consequences.

The production site in Alabuga is located 1,200 kilometers from the state border of Ukraine. This is quite a long distance for most weapons of destruction, but the strike was nonetheless carried out.