{
  "id": 1987723,
  "title": "Russians recruited for war in Ukraine through jobs as guards at Wildberries and Ozon warehouses, Verstka reports",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/19/russians-recruited-for-war-in-ukraine-through-jobs-as-guards-at",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-19T17:40:12.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Insider",
    "slug": "the-insider",
    "url": "https://theins.press/en/news/296221"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "According to Russian independent outlet Verstka, over 2,000 job advertisements for security guards at Wildberries and Ozon warehouses have been posted on the Russian classifieds site Avito since August 17. These advertisements promise a one-year contract with Russia's Defense Ministry, claiming that the guards will not be deployed to fight in Ukraine. However, sources interviewed by Verstka suggest that these ads are actually a ruse to recruit contract soldiers. Almost all of the job postings share the same headline: \"Security for Wildberries and Ozon warehouses as part of a [mobile fire] group.\" The job applications urge candidates to sign up before the onset of potential \"mobilization processes\" and offer a one-time bonus of 3.1 million rubles ($37,000). A Verstka correspondent, posing as a job applicant, called the listed phone numbers, and recruiters confirmed that the contracts would involve defending commercial warehouses from drones. Despite this, the recruitment process mirrors that of regular military enlistment. The Verstka sources familiar with military recruitment efforts confirm that the advertisements are a cover for recruiting contract soldiers, as Avito rigorously moderates job postings. This comes amid a surge in drone attacks on Wildberries logistics centers across Russia.",
  "summary": "About 2,000 ads seeking guards for “ mobile fire groups ” at warehouses run by Russian e-commerce giants Wildberries and Ozon have appeared on the online classifieds site Avito since Aug. 17, the exiled independent Russian outlet Verstka reported today. Recruiters are offering candidates a one-year contract with Russia’s Defense Ministry, claiming that those who sign up will not be sent to fight…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "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."
}