Moscow has begun recruiting drone operators through a job search service
5 July 02:14
Job postings for drone operators to secure the airspace over Moscow have appeared on HeadHunter, Russia’s largest job search portal, as noted by Reuters, according to "Komersant Ukrainian".
Candidates are being offered the opportunity to join the “Army Combat Reserve” as volunteers, whose mission is to “ensure the capital’s security using modern technical solutions and surveillance systems.”
No work experience is required; “basic technical skills” are sufficient. Duties include preparing drones for flight, conducting reconnaissance missions, and collecting data day and night. The salary—starting at 150,000 rubles per month—is significantly lower than the average in Moscow (according to Russian authorities, the average salary in the capital is over 200,000 rubles), the agency notes. Reuters was unable to determine exactly when the job posting first appeared, but it was updated on July 1.
The posting appeared amid an increase in Ukrainian drone attacks on the capital. In June, the Ukrainian Armed Forces carried out two strikes in three days on the Moscow Oil Refinery, located inside the Moscow Ring Road (MKAD). The Kremlin promised to strengthen its defenses against such attacks. Meanwhile, the day before, Russia launched its deadliest strike on Kyiv since the beginning of the year—at least 30 people were killed, the agency notes. Ukraine had previously stated that it would respond in kind.
In late June, it was reported that the Moscow branch of the Russian Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA) had sent out advertisements to students and staff promoting the “BARS-Moscow” volunteer unit to protect the skies from UAVs. The terms include one year of service, 200,000 rubles per month, bonuses for downed drones, and social benefits for families. At the same time, as stated in the announcement, the volunteers are not military personnel and will not be deployed to the “special military operation” zone.
