A Russian recruiter sanctioned by the United Kingdom over allegations of luring women from Africa and Asia to work in Kremlin-linked drone factories has been linked by a media investigation to Telegram channels promoting child sexual abuse.
Gatekeepers News reports that according to a report by the Daily Mail, a Telegram account linked to Konstantin Trifonov, a 31-year-old senior human resources executive with the Alabuga Start programme, was found to have participated in several disturbing channels.
The report said some of the channels carried names such as “School 69/Young Girls” and “Kindergarten Cookie”, with Trifonov’s account reportedly first appearing in the groups in August 2020.
Citing a Telegram analysis tool, the newspaper said the account was classified as having “enthusiastic” engagement with content relating to “child porn” and “porn.”
Trifonov is associated with the Alabuga Start programme, which operates from the Alabuga Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Russia’s Tatarstan region.
The initiative markets itself to young women from developing countries in Africa and Asia, promising competitive salaries, education, career opportunities and relocation benefits in Russia.
In May, the United Kingdom sanctioned Trifonov and other individuals connected to the programme, accusing recruiters of misleading foreign applicants. According to UK authorities, some recruits were sent to the front lines of the Russia-Ukraine war, while others were deployed to work in weapons manufacturing facilities.
Recruitment Across Africa
Publicly available photographs show Trifonov travelling to countries including Uganda, Ghana, Zimbabwe and Zambia as part of Alabuga Start’s recruitment campaign.
During the visits, he reportedly met government officials, visited schools and educational institutions, and encouraged young women to relocate to Russia under the programme, presenting it as an educational and professional development initiative.
The report added that Trifonov has also held meetings with officials from countries including the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Dominican Republic and Kenya to strengthen recruitment partnerships.
Launched in 2023, the Alabuga Start programme targets foreign women aged between 18 and 22.
According to its website, the programme offers employment opportunities, scholarships, fully funded training, Russian language classes, accommodation, health insurance and paid flights to Russia. Some promotional materials advertised monthly salaries of up to $700.
Applications are open to citizens of 85 countries, mostly in Africa and Asia, including Nigeria.
Abuse Allegations
The Alabuga programme has faced repeated allegations of labour exploitation and abuse.
Former participants have described the workplace as unsafe, alleging excessively long working hours, isolation, racism and sexual abuse.
The Daily Mail also reported seeing screenshots of messages allegedly sent by a man living near the Alabuga facility, claiming he had hired a Black woman for prostitution after she was dismissed from the programme.
The newspaper further said its investigation uncovered screenshots advertising prostitution services involving African women in Alabuga.
Russia has consistently denied allegations that it deceptively recruits Africans to fight in the war in Ukraine.
