Russia Employs 25,000 North Koreans in Drone Production
Up to 25,000 North Korean citizens are working in Russia to manufacture Iranian-designed drones for the war against Ukraine, in violation of UN sanctions. This is according to a report by the Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team (MSMT), cited by Bloomberg and South Korea’s SBS News on Thursday, Sept. 17.
As many as 100,000 North Koreans are reportedly working in Russia, with 25,000 employed in drone production at Alabuga Special Economic Zone, according to South Korean SBS News. The claim is based on a report from the Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team, published on September 16. Russia issued over 36,400 visas to North Koreans in 2025, nearly quadrupling the previous year.
Of these, 98% were granted for students to avoid international sanctions. Workers' movements and interactions with outsiders are strictly monitored, with those breaking rules or attempting to flee facing consequences for their families in North Korea. The average salary offered by Russia is approximately $7,500 per year, with most funds confiscated by the regime, leaving workers in debt.
This labor support is part of the cooperation between Russia and North Korea, which includes arms supply and troop deployments in exchange for financial and technical assistance for North Korea's ballistic missile programs, valued at up to $800 million last year. The MSMT, comprising 11 countries, monitors compliance with UN and other sanctions on North Korea following Russia's decision in 2024 to block the mandate's renewal.
Written by urgent.news from Kyiv Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
