- Category
- War in Ukraine
Fake IT Jobs, Real Military Contracts—Inside Russia’s New Recruitment Push
Prefer U24 Media on Google
- Authors
![Photo of Vlad Litnarovych]( "Photo of Vlad Litnarovych")
Russian military recruiters have begun advertising contract service jobs for “IT specialists,” “software developers,” and “digital systems specialists,” using a remote-work platform without explicitly mentioning Russia’s war against Ukraine, according to Verstka on November 3.
The listings appeared on FL.ru, a Russian website commonly used to find freelance and remote work.
We bring you stories from the ground. Your support keeps our team in the field.
“We are considering IT specialists and candidates with technical experience for work in the ‘Rubikon’ unit. Specialists who have worked with software, networks, electronics, communications, and technical systems are suitable,” one listing says.
Applicants are expected to be between 18 and 35 years old, have “confident PC skills,” and demonstrate “technical skills and an interest in technology.”
None of the listings mentions Russia’s so-called “special military operation,” the Kremlin’s term for its war against Ukraine.
The compensation packages, however, closely resemble standard Russian military contract offers: a one-time payment of up to $24,500, monthly salaries starting at $3,670, debt relief of up to $122 thousand, and the possibility of receiving a 0.25-acre land plot.
The ads were posted in early October from an account belonging to “Volunteer Center,” an organization involved in military recruitment.
A Verstka reporter used the center’s contact form to ask how safe an “IT specialist” position would be and how close the work would be to the front.
The automated response made clear that the job was not actually remote.
“Contract service involves being present in the area where the service is performed; remote work is not possible,” the message said.
The IT listings are the latest example of Russian recruiters repackaging military service as civilian employment.
Previous recruitment campaigns have reportedly advertised positions resembling warehouse security jobs for major online marketplaces such as Wildberries and Ozon, employment in Belarus or China, humanitarian cargo driving jobs, and even work as “peacekeepers.”
Previously, reports emerged that Russian contract soldier recruitment is slowing down despite unprecedented financial incentives and reports of forced mobilization.
Compiled data shows 234,000 Russians signed contracts with the Ministry of Defense between January and August of 2026. This marks a 10 percent decrease compared to the same period last year, resulting in a shortfall of 26,000 recruits.
Discuss this article:
-72b63a4e0c8c475ad81fe3eed3f63729.jpeg "Photo of Cyril Barabaltchouk")
