Key facts
- Russia is recruiting students for drone units as part of a large-scale drive.
- Valery Averin, 23, is among the first known Russian students killed in Ukraine after enlisting.
- Students are offered one-year contracts, financial incentives, and technical training.
- Drone operator roles are marketed as safer than infantry but have high casualty rates.
- At least 920 Russian drone operators have been killed since the start of the full-scale invasion.
Russia is intensifying efforts to recruit students from universities and colleges into its drone forces, presenting these roles as technically advanced and safer than traditional infantry positions. This initiative comes as Russia seeks to sustain its war effort in Ukraine and replenish mounting losses.
Valery Averin, a 23-year-old student, is among the first known Russian students to have died in Ukraine after enlisting through this new recruitment drive. His foster mother expressed shock, stating he had only trained for three months and was thrown into a frontal assault. Averin had never served in the army prior to signing a contract.
Similar cases include 18-year-old Vladislav Gorbunov and Rakhim Abdullin, who also died after enlisting as drone operators. Abdullin's mother noted that the role turned out to be far from safe, with soldiers on the front lines.
The recruitment campaign, which began early this year, targets students struggling academically or considering a break from their studies. They are offered one-year contracts, significant financial incentives, and the promise of acquiring valuable technical skills before returning to their education. In Moscow, volunteers are reportedly promised at least five million roubles (£43,000; $57,000) in their first year.
However, legal experts and rights activists caution that these contract promises may not be enforceable, as military contracts can effectively extend until the end of mobilization. While drone operator roles are marketed as safer, they have become high-value targets. BBC Russian's analysis indicates at least 920 Russian drone operators have been killed since the full-scale invasion began.
Evidence suggests recruitment activity has occurred in at least 95 universities and colleges, with some institutions reportedly facing recruitment targets. Students facing expulsion or considering academic leave are sometimes pressured into signing up. The focus on students signifies the war's increasing integration into civilian institutions.