Overview
- The ministry’s political chief, Viktor Goremykin, said contracts for students are voluntary and that the armed forces have no intent or means to compel them to sign.
- Goremykin outlined one-year terms for drone-unit contracts and a ban on moving those soldiers to other units without consent, while rights groups have warned a closed decree could allow retention beyond one year.
- Russia’s science ministry said it is coordinating with the military and has set up a center to guide universities and link them with contract-service recruiting offices.
- The education ministry disputed reports of mass expulsions used to pressure students, saying it logged six complaints in 2026 and that checks did not confirm any of them.
- Reporting this year described campus pressure to enlist, including an informal goal for at least 2% of students to sign contracts and plans to build out drone forces that investigative media estimated at up to 78,800 recruits.