# Investigation finds 47 of Russia’s 50 top universities advertising Defense Ministry contracts to students

https://mins.news/en/item/31817

- Meduza, 2026-08-25 15:56 UTC
- World
- Original: https://meduza.io/en/news/2026/08/25/forty-seven-of-russia-s-50-top-universities-are-advertising-defense-ministry-contracts-to-students-investigation-finds

> An investigation by Novaya Gazeta Europe found that 47 of Russia’s 50 highest-ranked universities have urged students to sign Defense Ministry contracts. Most promotions concern the Unmanned Systems Forces; some schools held recruitment events or introduced drone classes. Students have reportedly been attracted with extra payments and pressured through threats involving failed exams.