Russia's first private timber prison workshop revives after years of stagnation

A new timber processing project has begun at Penal Colony No. 13 in Zaozyornoye, Khabarovsk Krai. Entrepreneur Konstantin Grachev launched the initiative, which marks the first private investment in such a scheme since 2020. The facility now employs 20 inmates trained as sawing machine operators.

The project involved upgrading an old workshop and installing nine modern timber-processing machines. These improvements allow the facility to produce over 300 cubic meters of lumber each month. Products range from large beams to decorative wood panelling, giving the operation flexibility in the market.

Before starting work, the inmates completed specialised training through a Federal Penitentiary Service programme. Their new skills qualify them to operate the sawing equipment safely and efficiently. The last time a private investor funded a similar project was in 2020, when the Wagner Group set up operations in Vologda. Grachev's initiative stands as the only recent private-led effort to create industrial work opportunities for prisoners in Russia.

The facility now runs at full capacity, producing timber for commercial use. The 20 trained inmates handle all stages of processing, from raw logs to finished products. This project remains the first of its kind in Russia since the Wagner Group's earlier venture.