It is finally time for us to be back with a new investigation! Through different threads (check our X account @UnderYourNoz_Of), we already had the occasion to introduce you to the well-known Russian company Alabuga.
A short reminder: what is Alabuga SEZ?
Considered as a SEZ (Special Economic Zone) and located in Yelabuga City in Tatarstan in Russia, Alabuga established itself as a key player in the mass production of drones like the Russian-made Shahed-136: the Geran-2 in the war in Ukraine. But of course, it would be too good if there weren’t some little schemes going on behind all of this!
Under European sanctions since December 2023 as well as OFAC sanctions since February 2024, the SEZ has been under the spotlight for many different reasons (forced labor, luring women into their “Alabuga Start program” …). There are, indeed, many controversies around the SEZ and its business partners (many of which are also under sanctions).
Many OSINT teams and medias have already talked and wrote about Alabuga. We highly recommend you to go check InformNapalm and ISIS’s work to understand the SEZ’s links to Iran and its role in the war in Ukraine.
If you want a clearer picture of how the SEZ imports materials via third-party companies worldwide, we highly recommend checking out the amazing work by IranWatch through this powerful and super complete network map.
A new partner in crime for Alabuga SEZ: Silver LLC
While we’d love to make a proper introduction to the new member of this machination and guest star of this investigation: Silver LLC, it seems very hard to find some basic information about the company. Silver LLC has no media coverage, no website, no logo, and no social media presence, how utterly convenient for a company so closely tied to Alabuga. Nevertheless, we continued our research to gather further insights.
As we were working on our investigation, one of our fellow readers contacted us with key elements on Alabuga and Silver LLC. (By the way, if you want to help us, do not hesitate to contact us on underyournoz@proton.com). You won’t be disappointed with what you are about to read and learn!
From Drake LLC to Silver LLC: the continuity of Chinese exports to Alabuga
We received several Bills of Lading (BoL) coming from our dear friend, let’s call him Peta, who seems to have inside knowledge regarding the Russian-Chinese commercial exchanges. Just to clarify, this concerns specifically the supply chain for drone production. According to these documents, several Chinese companies like HARBIN BIN-AU TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT, SHUCHENG WANLI TRADING and SKYFOM IMPORT AND EXPORT TRADING are exporting goods for Silver LLC.
These names sound familiar? They were already mentioned by our colleagues from the amazing OSINT investigator(s) Frontelligence. Thanks to their incredible work, we were able to learn a little more about these Chinese companies. Already well-known, they were already exporting to the SEZ, notably through Drake LLC and Morgan LLC: two Russian companies also well-known for being involved in the supply chain of Geran-2 components for Alabuga.
Drake LLC is under European and OFAC sanctions since 2024.
Morgan LLC is under EU sanctions since 2025.
The (skyrocketing) growing popularity of Drake and Morgan would most likely have led Alabuga to search for new partners. And what could be better than developing one in the same place as the SEZ, in Yelabuga City?
In these BoL, the components can have both civilian and military use (camera, mower motor) that can be in turn widely diverted and installed on drones. Frontelligence revealed in their article that some of the goods exported and bought by Drake LLC and Morgan LLC were “explicitly labeled for use in the special military operation”. No doubts that these Chinese companies have not radically change their business all of the sudden and still export their goods to a new front company, for the profit of the Alabuga SEZ.
We already had the opportunity to explainhow components can have both civilian and military use in our recent article on Adata Technology , please do not hesitate to give it a read!
Even if there is no HS code on these documents, most of engine HS codes (beginning with 841)) are subject to restriction. Just remember: HS codes, which stands for Harmonized System codes for goods classification, is a list to identify high-tech dual-use (i.e. civilian and military grade) items. These dual-use assets might be diverted from their original purpose and employ as component in military products. Yet sometimes it can be falsely described as “not restricted lawn mower engines” which may be a way to bypass these restrictions.
With all these interesting information, it’s time to take a closer look at Silver LLC and who’s behind it.
Keep your friends close, and front-companies closer
Silver LLC is located on the 1 Neftyanikov street, Yelabuga City, 423603, Republic of Tatarstan, Russia (ROOM 405). (423603, Республика Татарстан, Елабужский р-н, г Елабуга, пр-кт Нефтяников, д. 1, офис 405)
This address is pointing on the SEZ, at the heart of the Alabuga system. When we check deeper the building in which Silver LLC is in, it appears that several other companies are also located at this address. And which companies you would ask? Well, you wouldn’t be too surprised!
One of Alabuga’s companies is located in this building: Alabuga Logistik. It seems to be a crown corporation for the Alabuga Industrial Program, meaning they are working closely in the drone production. How convenient for a company like Silver, receiving goods from Chinese companies, to be this close from this “highly recommended” business.
Lets’s take a deeper look into Silver LLC
Silver LLC was founded on November 2024. Its CEO is Danil Aleksandrovich Chouraev (Чураев Данил Александрович). Its share capital is equally distributed between four persons (25% each):
- Vladislav Maksimovich Nikolaev (Николаев Владислав Максимович)
- Semyon Andreevich Kisling (Кислинг Семён Андреевич)
- Bulat Ildarovich Vakhitov (Вахитов Булат Ильдарович)
- Renal Raffisovich Izmailov (Измайлов Реналь Рафисович)
All these gentlemen went to the same school, Alabuga Polytech, an establishment dedicated to training youth in technology fields. A beneficial circle for the SEZ, that trains and recruits talent directly at home to work for them.
And while working for Alabuga should be more of a discreet affair considering its current reputation, it looks like that ego speaks first before all! It is stated on Bulat Vahkitov’s VK profile that he works for the SEZ. He is SO proud that he even shares it on his Audiobook Account! We are almost certain this is the right person, even though we cannot 100% confirm.
He also won a competition for “Alabuga Skills” in the Industrial Robotics.
Two of these gentlemen can be also found on one register document of Alabuga Polytech: Vladislav Maksimovich Nikolaev and Renal Raffisovich Izmailov were both registered as part of the “Information systems and programming” major. And… that’s pretty much it. There is nothing more to find online about these 4 shareholders, which seems pretty convenient for a ghost company only here to help Alabuga whole drone supply chain.
Into our next chapter
Silver LLC is just one of Alabuga’s many pawns. With the incredible work from Frontelligence, InformNapalm and ISIS, we were able to understand the SEZ and many of their dark schemes. But we would also like to thank our community: you answered our call for help when we needed you! This investigation is the direct result of the combination of our determination and your engagement.
In this perspective, if you have more information on other companies working for Alabuga, if you think you know anything that could be of interest, share, spread and speak! You can also contact us directly on underyournoz@proton.com.
In the meantime, stay safe and rest assured: we will be back very soon with even juicier investigations!