An investigation jointly undertaken by Current Time and Radio Free Europe, a United States government-funded outlet, has found the Moscow-based company ABZ Bely Rast recruited workers from Tajikistan to dig trenches in the occupied Zaporizhzhia territory in January 2023. Migrant workers said they were underpaid and some were unable to return home.

ABZ Bely Rast management told the investigation workers were paid in full and foremen did not pass wages on, which was denied by a worker who spoke to Newsweek. ABZ Bely Rast did not provide further comment to Newsweek.