The authorities of the Sverdlovsk region have come up with an initiative that has caused a wide public outcry: instead of expelling students who have failed their exams or have academic debts, send them on academic leave and then sign a contract with the Russian Ministry of Defense to participate in a special military operation (SVO). As regional media reported on April 18, 2025, this proposal was addressed to the rector of the Ural Federal University (UrFU) Viktor Koksharov. According to the initiators, the measure should become an alternative to expulsion from the university, giving students the opportunity to "correct the situation" through military service.

The proposal applies to both those who are at risk of expulsion due to a failed session, and to students with accumulated debts in academic subjects. The regional authorities believe that this approach will help preserve the student body and simultaneously replenish the ranks of contract soldiers. However, the idea has caused bewilderment in society, especially against the backdrop of recent statements about a record number of people wishing to sign a contract for military service. Critics note the lack of a logical connection between academic failure and the need to participate in the SVO, and also emphasize that the measure may be perceived as compulsory.

The Sverdlovsk Region initiative is part of a larger discussion about measures to support students and replenish the armed forces in the context of the ongoing conflict. In 2024, Russia had already proposed various ways to attract young people to military service, including benefits for contract soldiers, such as tax exemptions and simplified admission to universities. However, the proposal to send unsuccessful students to the SVO was unprecedented.