Students across Russian universities are being targeted and persuaded to sign military contracts under promises of lucrative pay, educational benefits, and placements far from the active war zone in Ukraine. However, multiple reports indicate that these guarantees are not always honored, and recruits may face frontline deployment with high risks of injury or death. Recruitment Inside Higher Education Institutions Across Russia’s academic landscape, including universities and vocational colleges, representatives from military recruitment centers and draft offices have been visiting campuses to encourage students to enlist in the armed forces’ drone divisions. Students are told they can secure a one‑year contract, receive roughly 5 million rubles (approximately €50,000 / $58,000), and be stationed away from direct combat, while also obtaining tuition coverage after their service. Despite these assurances, observers and insiders report that students often end up signing open‑ended agreements that do not match the initial promises and in some cases are moved toward more dangerous military responsibilities. Campus Outreach and Organized Campaigns Information from student Telegram channels and university postings shows that at least 70 different educational institutions in 23 regions — including areas like the occupied Crimean peninsula — are engaged in these recruitment efforts. A significant number of these schools are clustered in metropolitan centers such as Moscow and St. Petersburg. Officials from these institutions have held organized sessions where students are informed about supposed benefits and incentives. According to insiders, a senior government official instructed university leaders to increase enlistment among students for service in drone units, resulting in varied recruitment methods. No Unified Recruitment System One staff member at a Moscow university — speaking under a pseudonym — revealed that there is no standardized process for how recruitment is being conducted. Some universities host group interactions with military veterans of the conflict (officially termed the “special military operation”), draft board officials, and faculty members who discuss service options with students. In some local regions, education authorities have issued formal instructions on how the enlistment process should be handled, and some administrations have even emailed students directly with contract opportunities. Expanded Targets Beyond Technical Majors Independent reports show that recruitment has expanded beyond traditionally relevant technical programs. Initially focused on engineering or technical disciplines, the campaign now extends to virtually all students — including those at risk of academic dismissal — with universities given quotas to fulfill for enlistment. One insider estimates that approximately 0.5 % to 2 % of the student population at any given institution is expected to sign up. Falling short of recruitment targets reportedly creates pressure on university executives, who may be perceived as failing to support national priorities. Consequences of Meeting Quotas Officials have allegedly linked poor recruitment numbers to administrative risk for top university leaders. Some universities are now incentivizing students with additional payments, while others suggest negative academic consequences — such as blocked exams — for those who refuse to enlist. In some cases, students who struggled academically were presented with stark choices: agree to a contract for drone unit service or face expulsion. Questionable Contract Terms Recruitment materials distributed on campuses often feature language suggesting that enlistment will last only one year, after which students can return to their normal studies or civilian life. However, legal advisors and advocates argue that these representations do not align with current Russian law. Artem Klyga, a lawyer with the Movement of Conscientious Objectors (an organization labeled a “foreign agent” in Russia), explains that legally there is no guarantee of a fixed‑term contract and that such agreements are effectively open until national authorities end the existing mobilization order. Court decisions have upheld the open‑ended nature of these contracts. Furthermore, signing up for drone unit service does not necessarily limit someone to that role. Under existing legislation, recruits can be reassigned to other military positions or units if commanders deem it necessary. Broken Promises and Realities Support organizations assisting Russian servicemen who wish to escape the conflict have documented instances where initial promises were broken. In one case, students from a college in St. Petersburg were told they would serve at a nearby base working on equipment. Instead, they were later informed that they would be operating drones in frontline conditions. Another contract soldier recounted that he was initially placed on a command staff role but was later reassigned to an engineering unit tasked with mine clearance. Contact with him was lost weeks later, and reports suggest he was killed in combat in the Kharkiv region. Campus Perspectives and Resistance The Moscow university informant claimed he was unaware of any students who had signed contracts at his school, and that he personally tried to dissuade them from enlisting. However, speaking out carries risks, including potential reporting to higher authorities. He also noted that some students were fully conscious that no financial reward could compensate for severe injury or death. Academic Life Turning into Wartime Environment Describing the changing atmosphere on campus, the insider shared that universities now increasingly resemble military recruitment hubs rather than places focused solely on education. His personal beliefs prevent him from participating in or supporting the wartime mobilization of young people, and he strives to focus on teaching — despite the pressure to contribute to military recruitment efforts.
