Russia bans transfer of drone operators to assault units

Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov has signed a directive imposing personal responsibility for compliance with contracts and service procedures within the country's new Unmanned Systems Forces. The document explicitly prohibits the transfer of military personnel from drone units to other units, such as assault formations, without their consent, and mandates discharge on the day a contract expires. These instructions are an additional measure reinforcing a ban on transfers and timely discharges that has been in effect since November 2025, when special contracts for the force began. The move is aimed at retaining skilled drone operators and preventing their forced reassignment to frontline infantry roles.