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Yelabuga Drone Plant Uses 12,000 North Korean Forced Workers

By Drooid · Oct 20, 2026, 4:03 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Yelabuga drone plant employs up to 12,000 North Korea workers under forced-labor conditions.
The factory delivers more than 5,500 drones each month to support Russia’s war in Ukraine.
China supplies most dual-use components, including batteries, electronics, engines, and navigation systems.
North Korea retains up to 90% of workers’ wages, breaching UN resolution 2397.
Report authors urge the U.S. State Department and UN to disrupt trafficking and sanction violators.

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Story summary

Yelabuga drone plant employs up to 12,000 North Korea workers under forced-labor conditions.
The factory delivers more than 5,500 drones each month to support Russia’s war in Ukraine.
China supplies most dual-use components, including batteries, electronics, engines, and navigation systems.
North Korea retains up to 90% of workers’ wages, breaching UN resolution 2397.
Report authors urge the U.S. State Department and UN to disrupt trafficking and sanction violators.