Russia’s Defense Ministry seeks contract soldiers via job ads for well-paid ‘security guards’ from unaffiliated municipal organizations

BBC News Russian has called attention to advertisements posted by a state-funded institution called Zhilishnik, which is involved in the maintenance of residential buildings. The ads seek “security guards” in several Moscow neighborhoods.

The ads promise new “security guards” a salary of 170,000–240,000 rubles (about $2,115–$2,985) per month, combat veteran status, payments for children, and “two years’ job security at the main place of employment.” $2,000 a month is a typical salary for Russian tech workers, making the “security guard” positions particularly well-compensated. The positions require no prior work experience, but the ads indicate that new hires will undergo “up to two months” of training.

One ad indicates that the Zhilishnik organization has ties to “the Defense Ministry of the Russian Federation,” though an analogous ad from the same organization a different Moscow neighborhood makes no such mention.

A BBC News Russian correspondent called the number indicated in the advertisements. The person who answered the phone explained that “we’re talking about signing a contract for military service, this work is in the ‘special military operation’ zone.”

“The contract will be with the Defense Ministry, it’s just that the Zhilishnik organization hires you for an extra salary from the city of Moscow. It’s as if you’re with that organization,” he said. 

Asked why the ads were about openings for “security guards,” the person who spoke to BBC’s correspondent said, “Because organizations unrelated to the Defense Ministry can’t advertise for such positions [contract soldiers].”