An investigation by Important Stories revealed that Russian companies owned by sanctioned Russian oligarchs are employing job applicants who, the next day, sign contracts with the Russian Ministry of Defence. After these workers are conscripted, the companies pay them so-called bonuses in addition to the payments from the Ministry of Defence.

The Business & Human Rights Resource Centre invited Novatek, PIK, and Mospromstroy to respond, but none of the companies did.