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Russia is rapidly expanding the militarization of higher education, integrating educational institutions ever more deeply into its war machine, according to Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation, UATV English reports.
“Alongside the mass recruitment of students into drone units, the Russian authorities are moving toward direct coercion. Beginning on September 1, 2026, a mandatory basic course on unmanned systems will be introduced in all transport universities across Russia,” the Center stated.
The program will apply to 19 specialized universities and 86 affiliated branches throughout the country.
According to the CCD, this means that at least 150,000 university students—and more than 250,000 young people when colleges are included—will be required to acquire skills that the Russian state allegedly intends to use in its war against Ukraine.
The Center argues that these measures once again demonstrate that the Russian authorities are not genuinely interested in education or personal development.
“The state does not need highly qualified specialists capable of critical thinking. Today, the Russian education system functions exclusively as a conveyor belt that turns students into a compliant personnel reserve and ‘cannon fodder’ for war,” the CCD said.
Earlier, reports indicated that Russia plans to attract up to 500,000 foreign students through free education programs as part of broader efforts to expand its geopolitical influence.
Read also: Russia’s Military Spending Reaches 48% of State Budget: Rutte Urges NATO to Strengthen Deterrence
