Russian authorities are rapidly adjusting their strategy by investing huge sums to entice students nationwide to drop out and join the drone army, offering incomes in the millions and full tuition waivers throughout their courses. This comes as the Ukraine war drags on and drone technology has become a critical factor on the battlefield.
The Russian government is expanding recruitment for its drone forces, targeting young people and technically skilled students amid the ongoing fifth year of fighting in Ukraine and stalled peace talks affected by the war's impact in Iran.
Recruitment documents from several Russian universities reveal hard-to-refuse offers designed to attract students to drone units. For example, the Far Eastern Federal University (FEFU) in Vladivostok announced support measures on 19 March, offering a first-year income starting at 5.5 million rubles (about 2.23 million baht) and over 2.5 million rubles (around 1 million baht) after completing training.
Additionally, they offer a regular salary of 240,000 rubles per month (approximately 97,570 baht) plus educational privileges, including full tuition waivers upon returning to studies, extended leave options, free accommodation, and additional scholarships.
Moreover, prestigious universities in Moscow and Saint Petersburg, such as the Moscow State University of Civil Engineering, offer positions for engineers and technical experts, with some indicating total annual incomes reaching up to 7 million rubles (about 2.84 million baht).
Experts note that Russia's focus on students shows the government's desire for "highly skilled human resources" in the drone army, which now plays a decisive role in combat. Although drone operators work far from the front lines, they are considered "high-value targets" that opponents try to track down and eliminate if their positions are detected.
Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council, stated that Russia's continuous volunteer recruitment system remains successful, with over 400,000 volunteers joining the military last year and more than 80,000 in just the first few months of this year.
Despite aggressive recruitment, Medvedev and the Kremlin insist that this is not part of a general mobilization and emphasize that Russia is not facing personnel shortages as claimed by Ukraine.
Meanwhile, reports indicate that several companies in the Ryazan region have begun receiving "quotas" from the government to send employees to the military, reflecting Russia's increasingly diverse and subtle recruitment efforts to avoid broad conscription that could destabilize domestic stability.
,SourceReuters