North Korean laborers are producing Geran-2 military drones at a specialized economic zone in Tatarstan to support Russia's campaign against Ukraine. As many as 25,000 workers operate at the Alabuga factory, some of whom entered Russia using student visas in defiance of United Nations sanctions.

Russia completed a housing complex at the Alabuga Special Economic Zone in 2025 to accommodate foreign workers, including North Korean nationals. Russian arms dealers have sought these laborers for other defense sectors including armored fighting vehicles and fighter jets, raising the risk of military knowledge transfer to Pyongyang.