{
  "id": 16753888,
  "title": "A Russian IT worker joined the army to ‘benefit society’ and was promised a job operating drones. Now he’s missing in Ukraine, and his wife believes his commanders stole his money.",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/27/a-russian-it-worker-joined-the-army-to-benefit-society-and-was",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-27T14:32:28.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Meduza (English)",
    "slug": "meduza-english",
    "url": "https://meduza.io/en/feature/2026/10/27/a-russian-it-worker-joined-the-army-to-benefit-society-and-was-promised-a-job-operating-drones-now-he-s-missing-in-ukraine-and-his-wife-believes-his-commanders-stole-his-money"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "An IT specialist from Chelyabinsk signed a contract with Russia’s Defense Ministry that promised him service in the drone forces. Instead, he ended up in what’s known as a “meat grinder regiment.” He was sent on an assault and went missing, his wife told the independent Russian investigative outlet iStories.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "New Voice of Ukraine",
        "title": "Russian metals lobby still trying to push Ukraine out, Metinvest executive says",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/27/russian-metals-lobby-still-trying-to-push-ukraine-out-metinvest",
        "published": "2026-10-27T15:02:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}