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Russia Forces Penal Colony Inmates to Build Concrete Shelters Against Drone Attacks
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Prisoners in Russia's Sverdlovsk region have been assigned to construct concrete shelters designed to protect civilians from drone strikes, according to regional prison authorities.
The precast monolithic and modular protective units are being produced at a manufacturing plant associated with a penal colony settlement located in the village of Vostochhny, The Moscow Times reported on October 9.
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Authorities stated that prisoners are already preparing the initial shipment of concrete structures for delivery to the customer.
Regional prison officials claimed the initiative addresses multiple objectives at once. They noted that working with heavy machinery provides convicts with practical experience that could improve employment opportunities after release, while maintaining a good work record serves as an argument when applying for early release.
On March 17, 2026, Russia’s Justice Ministry proposed legal changes to allow "super-prisons" combining pretrial detention with industrial labor, enabling convicted inmates to work in on-site manufacturing like woodworking and textiles to cut costs.
Authorities in Russia’s Tatarstan region began installing reinforced-concrete shelters to protect residents during drone attacks, bringing wartime civil defense measures over 1,000 kilometers from Ukraine.
The first structure, designed for 20 people, was placed in Semya Park in Nizhnekamsk after local officials studied similar shelters used in the Belgorod region.
Mayor Radmir Belyaev stated that the pilot project aimed to safeguard civilians from blast waves and fragments when larger shelters could not be reached in time, with plans to expand the installations to other public spaces if proven effective.
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