Ukrainian Armed Forces Strikes Are Leaving Russia Without Foreign Workers

The influx of migrants from Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan fell by 15%.

Russia has been trying to address its labor shortage by relying on foreign workers. Now Moscow risks facing a new problem: migrant workers may begin to avoid dangerous regions or refuse to travel to the country altogether, according to The New York Times (translation by Charter97.org).

“They came to Russia to earn a living, and now they find themselves under fire,” is how the American publication describes the situation of foreigners working at Russian enterprises that are becoming targets of Ukrainian attacks.

Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries and industrial facilities are depriving the Kremlin of part of its production capacity and forcing it to spend resources on restoring damaged infrastructure. The Ukrainian Armed Forces are methodically striking targets critical to the Russian economy and military machine, demonstrating that even facilities far from the front lines can no longer feel safe.

For Russia, which is already facing an acute labor shortage, this creates additional problems. Foreigners who view the country as a place to earn a living may increasingly weigh the risks and choose safer destinations.

The influx of migrant workers from Central Asia is already declining; in the first half of 2026, the number of entries into Russia for work by citizens of Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan to work in Russia fell by approximately 15% compared to the same period last year.

The more effectively Ukrainian forces strike at Russian infrastructure, the harder it is for Moscow to maintain its usual production rates and compensate for the labor shortage. Against the backdrop of the war, demographic decline, and tightening migration policies, the labor shortage risks becoming yet another serious economic problem for the Kremlin.

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