Russia is scaling up the recruitment of female students into UAV units. This was reported by the National Resistance Center (NRC) of the Special Operations Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, according to UNN.
Details
It is noted that while previously such practices were recorded primarily in the temporarily occupied territories, they have now spread to educational institutions throughout Russia.
Recruitment is conducted directly within the walls of universities and colleges—through SMS distributions, announcements on monitors, and personal conversations after lectures. Cases have been recorded where students with tuition debt are offered a contract in exchange for debt cancellation,
It is indicated that the Russian Ministry of Defense claims the contract is valid for one year and that students supposedly will not have to fight on the front lines. At the same time, the first case of the death of a student recruited for the war has already been recorded: a 23-year-old man from Buryatia signed a contract with a UAV unit in January, and by April, he died in the Luhansk region near the front line.
"Russia is cynically turning educational institutions—both in the occupied territories and within the country—into a conveyor belt for replenishing UAV units. The chronic shortage of personnel is forcing the regime to lower the age threshold and expand the social categories for recruitment," the NRC states.
Recall
According to the NRC, in the temporarily occupied territories, universities are actively involving students in the Russian army. In Mariupol, youth are being campaigned to sign one-year service contracts.