Russia’s Education Ministry issued an order addressed to regional education ministries. In it, the ministry urges universities to expel students more often and campaign for them to sign contracts with the Defense Ministry. Copies of the document were published by the Telegram channel “Mobilization” and the student media outlet “Groza”.
The document is titled “On the formation of patriotic attitudes among student youth, strengthening academic discipline, and the participation of veterans of the special military operation in the educational process.” In it, the ministry requires universities to establish “close interaction” with military enlistment offices.
The ministry also asks universities to hold more events related to signing military contracts, including for service in unmanned systems troops.
In addition, the Education Ministry ordered university leadership to eliminate “all unjustified leniency” toward students. The ministry called for ensuring that “only those who are ready to conscientiously master educational programs continue their studies.” The document says that special attention should be paid to student attendance.
When students are expelled, universities must send information about this to the Education Ministry and military enlistment offices. The vacated places will then be taken by participants in the war in Ukraine.
Human rights advocate Artem Klyga is convinced that universities will begin expelling students on contrived grounds in order to fulfill recruitment targets for contract soldiers. In his view, reasons for expulsion may include being late to classes, smoking, and the use of obscene language.
At the beginning of the year, Russian universities already began actively campaigning to recruit citizens into UAV troops. The outlet Faridaily wrote that the Education Ministry had tasked university rectors with sending at least 2% of students to fight in the war in Ukraine.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that he knows nothing about the recruitment of students into UAV troops. The same was stated by the Education Ministry.