Kathrine Frich
These laborers will help fill critical roles in Russia’s factories and defense sectors.
These laborers will help fill critical roles in Russia’s factories and defense sectors.
War Drains Workforce
Vladimir Putin is facing a staggering labor shortfall as the war in Ukraine drains Russia’s workforce.
To plug the gap, Moscow is turning to India, preparing to bring in up to a million foreign workers.
Ukraine War Bleeds Russia Dry of Workers
After over three years of brutal conflict in Ukraine, Russia has lost more than a million soldiers to death or injury, according to multiple reports.
This, combined with widespread military call-ups and early retirements, has created a severe manpower shortage across key industries.
Indian Labor to the Rescue
To stop its economy from collapsing, the Kremlin has struck a quiet deal with New Delhi to import around one million Indian workers.
These laborers will help fill critical roles in Russia’s factories and defense sectors, particularly in regions like Sverdlovsk in the Urals.
Heavy Industry on the Brink
The Sverdlovsk region, home to tank manufacturer Uralvagonzavod and the Uralmash engineering plant, is a backbone of Russia’s military-industrial complex.
Officials say the Indian workforce will help address an urgent shortage of skilled labor in these vital sectors.
New Consulate Opens for ‘Specialists’
A new Indian consulate is opening in Yekaterinburg to facilitate the influx of workers.
Russian officials claim these recruits are “specialists,” though details remain vague about their qualifications or contracts.
Birth Rate Hits 200-Year Low
Adding to the crisis, Russia’s birth rate has plummeted to its lowest level in two centuries.
Demographers estimate only 293,000-294,000 children were born in the first quarter of 2025, a figure not seen since the early 1800s.
Kremlin Faces Long-Term Collapse
Experts warn Russia will need 10 million new workers by 2030 to sustain its economy.
With both the war and demographic decline intensifying, the Kremlin’s reliance on foreign labor looks set to deepen.
Teenagers and Pensioners in the Factories
The Indian deal follows earlier desperate efforts by the Kremlin to recruit teenagers and pensioners for war-related factory jobs.
Russia’s labor market, once robust, is now showing the cracks of a country stretched to its breaking point.
