The Russian Ministry of Defense is reportedly recruiting students from at least eight universities and five colleges in the occupied regions of Donetsk and Luhansk for its drone warfare units. This initiative has been documented by the Donbas Realities project of Radio Free Europe.
Among the institutions involved are several institutions that have been operating under occupation since 2014 or 2022, including the so-called Dal University, Tugan-Baranovsky University, DonNTU, DonNASA, and Mariupol Technological University, among others.
Investigations reveal that the recruitment process extends beyond mere promotional efforts for contract service. University administrations are actively participating, with students being offered the necessary paperwork directly in deans’ offices or designated military registration rooms. Some institutions, such as the Donbas State Technical University, have even announced recruitment events alongside their students in university military units.
Recruiters are reportedly employing various tactics to persuade students to sign contracts, including claims of safe service conditions for drone operators, the possibility of discharge after one year, attractive pay, and the perceived prestige associated with this branch of the Russian military.
Previous reports from Russian opposition media have highlighted similar pressures within Russian universities and colleges aimed at securing contracts for drone warfare units.
The Russian military is actively recruiting students in occupied regions for drone operations, involving university administrations in the process. This raises concerns about the manipulation of students and the role of educational institutions in military recruitment.
Source: Radio Free Europe