Russia Recruiting Volunteers to Form Anti-Drone Units

In various regions of the Russian Federation, a large-scale campaign has been launched to recruit volunteers to create special units that will be engaged in the protection of critical infrastructure. This process is based on a law signed by the president on November 4, which allows reservists to be involved in carrying out similar tasks not only in wartime but also in peacetime.

According to "Kommersant's" calculations, such work is already underway in about two dozen subjects of the Russian Federation. The main task of these detachments will be to combat enemy unmanned aerial vehicles. While performing their duties, reservists will receive the status of a serviceman with all the benefits due to them, including social guarantees and payments.

It is noted that in some regions, the formation of specialized detachments had begun even before the law came into force. One of the first was the Leningrad region, where the creation of the "BARS-47" detachment, designed to prevent UAV attacks and sabotage, was announced. Similar processes have also been launched in Tatarstan to protect oil facilities in Kazan and Nizhnekamsk, in Bashkiria to ensure the security of fuel and energy complex plants, and in the Nizhny Novgorod region.

In the border regions of Belgorod, Bryansk, and Kursk, detachments performing similar tasks were created back in 2024. Now, within the framework of the new law, it is planned to form additional units. In these regions, the tasks of reservists will not be limited to combating UAVs; they must also prevent the activities of enemy sabotage and reconnaissance groups and, if necessary, participate in the evacuation of the population.

Although the Ministry of Defense states that reservists will serve only within the territory of their region, there is no such restriction in the text of the law. However, this condition is stipulated in the standard contract concluded with the volunteers.

Age restrictions (up to 50 for privates, up to 60-65 for officers), health status, and education requirements are set for enlistment. The amount of monetary allowance depends on the region. For example, in the Bryansk region, the monthly payment will range from 40.5 to 99.3 thousand rubles, plus bonuses, while in other regions, the monthly payments are more modest, but larger sums are provided for participation in training camps.