February 26, 2026

Contracts for students do not imply drone operator service and the right to dismissal, lawyers confirm

The Ulyanovsk College of Culture and Arts published an addendum to the contract for students, which is actively advertised in Russian universities. According to the text, those who sign can be sent to the infantry instead of drone troops under the pretext that they did not meet the requirements – selection will take place after the contract is concluded. This was reported by human rights activist Artem Klyga. In addition, points in the document regarding the possibility of early dismissal and payments for the destruction of equipment are legally void, notes Klyga. The first contradicts Putin's decree on mobilization, the second has no legislative basis. "Legal wording is a bad thing for recruiters. Much more can be concluded from them than from advertising brochures and posters," wrote the human rights activist. Earlier, the administration of the Higher School of Economics confirmed the same information to human rights activists. They stated that they send students to war in Ukraine on a regular contract – without the declared guarantees of returning to their studies and dismissal from service. According to the publication "Groza", campaigning among students demanding to sign a contract is taking place in at least 41 universities and colleges.