Migrant workers from Central Asia recruited by Russian companies to dig trenches in occupied parts of Ukraine have reportedly complained about being underpaid.

... the Moscow-based company ABZ Bely Rast had recruited workers from Tajikistan to build trenches in the occupied Zaporizhzhia region of Ukraine in January 2023.

... after the work was completed, [one worker] said that they were shortchanged by about 200,000 rubles ($2,500) and the company refused to pay them the rest. After stopping the work, those who could not afford to return home remained to await payment and laid a complaint in Moscow...

Ukrainian human rights activist Pavel Lisyansky told Sistema that digging trenches would be considered a crime because it would be participating in the preparation of the occupation and that such workers that did it could be placed on an international wanted list...

A source in the ABZ Bely Rast's management told the investigation that the money was paid in full, but it was the foreman, who did not pass this on to the workers, although Nurullo denied this.

Newsweek reached out to ABZ Bely Rast via email for comment...