Benefits and esports: how students can join the unmanned systems forces

      Students of Tatarstan have received a unique opportunity to combine the defense of the Motherland with maintaining their place in university.

      In Tatarstan, work continues to attract young people to serve in high-tech units of the Ministry of Defense. An officer from the military service selection point in Kazan, Yegor Goryachev, revealed details of special conditions for students who have decided to dedicate themselves to service in the Armed Forces of Unmanned Systems (AUS). The main innovation concerns the preservation of the educational track. Previously, young people often faced the dilemma: either the army or a diploma. Now this problem has been resolved legislatively. According to the Tatarstan Military Commissariat, students who sign a contract automatically receive the right to transfer to a distance learning format for the entire period of performing combat tasks. This allows them to continue their studies without interruption and not lose accumulated academic hours.

      The financial aspect has also been revised in favor of the defender. During the term of the contract, the university exempts the student from tuition fees. Moreover, after completing their service, the young person has a guaranteed right to return to "budget" funding, even if they initially studied on a commercial basis. Thus, the state takes on the costs of training personnel while ensuring defense capability.

      The service scheme is built on the principle of intensive training: out of 12 months of the contract, three months are allocated for specialized training in the management of unmanned aerial vehicles, while the remaining time is for performing official duties. Upon completion of the contract, the soldier receives not only monetary compensation but also the status of a combat veteran with all accompanying social guarantees and benefits.

      Special interest among military commissariat specialists is drawn to the category of youth commonly referred to as the "digital generation." As noted at the selection point, young people who are fond of computer games have the highest chances of successfully passing the selection and quickly adapting. The reason is not in entertainment, but in the skills developed: gamers have highly developed fine motor skills necessary for precise control of drones, and their familiarity with interface logic allows for significantly shorter training times for managing combat systems.

      For those who want to learn more about the daily life, training stages, and real conditions of service in the Armed Forces of Unmanned Systems, a detailed analysis has been prepared on the portal. Interested parties are also reminded of financial support measures: starting January 1, 2026, Tatarstan has a record one-time payment amount for those signing a contract with the Ministry of Defense — 2.9 million rubles.

      In addition, the republic maintains its leadership in the number of municipal acts aimed at supporting participants in the special military operation and their families. To date, there are more than three thousand such regulatory documents in Tatarstan, covering a wide range of benefits — from exemption from transport tax to priority enrollment of children in kindergartens and schools.

      Yulia Kazamarova