A shocking report in the Financial Times has revealed that Roscosmos, the main Russian space corporation, is recruiting and training a militia to join the country’s war effort against Ukraine. The “Uran” battalion, made up of employees of Roscosmos and its subsidiaries in the aerospace business, will receive a sign-up bonus of 100,000 rubles ($1,200) and a monthly frontline duty salary of 270,000 rubles. Recruitment efforts include glossy posters and videos that glorify participation in the war. The campaign is an attempt to bolster Russia’s military forces, which have been struggling in their invasion of Ukraine for the last 16 months. Despite the acts of war and terrorism in Russia, the Roscosmos-NASA relationship has remained strong over the last year, since the belligerent former leader of Roscosmos, Dmitry Rogozin, was fired from his post. However, former NASA astronauts are less comfortable with the ongoing cooperation, and the direct intervention of Roscosmos should push NASA to a breaking point in its relations on the International Space Station.
In a move that has drawn widespread criticism, Russian space agency Roscosmos has allegedly been recruiting soldiers from Russia’s military to join the war in Ukraine.
According to a recent report from the Russian news site RBK, Roscosmos has been sending recruitment letters to Russian forces, asking them to volunteer to fight in the war in eastern Ukraine. The letters reportedly offer free airfare to those who join and promise additional compensation for their work. The report also states that the offer is open to personnel from all branches of the Russian military.
It is unclear how many soldiers have volunteered or have been recruited through this effort, but this revelation has raised serious concerns about the intentions of the Russian space agency. The news site also reports that the recruitment drive is being handled by a firm with close ties to Roscosmos, raising further questions about the agency’s involvement.
This news has been met with sharp condemnation from international watchdogs, who argue that the recruitment of soldiers for a war many governments have declared illegal is highly unethical and sets a dangerous precedent for other organizations to follow. The effort has also been condemned by Ukrainian authorities, who have labeled it a “gross violation” of international law.
While Roscosmos has yet to comment on the report, the news has sparked an international call to investigate the allegations and to ensure that all legal and ethical standards are being adhered to. It is yet to be seen what action will be taken against the agency, if any, but this alleged recruitment drive stands as yet another worrying example of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
