Generolo Jono Žemaičio Lietuvos karo akademija

This article examines the impact of demographic trends and the regional distribution of high school graduates on student recruitment at the University of Defence. Based on data on the number of high school graduates in individual regions and information on applicants and enrolled students in full-time military study programs for the years 2021–2025, the article analyzes the relationship between the population potential of regions and actual interest in studying. The results reveal significant regional differences. The analysis confirms the existence of a relationship between the number of high school graduates and the number of admitted students, but also highlights the importance of other factors related to the specific nature of military studies. These findings provide a basis for targeted planning of the University of Defence’s recruitment and marketing activities.

Physical fitness represents an essential component of military readiness and a key prerequisite for the successful completion of military training and future service. The aim of this study was to analyse and compare the annual physical fitness assessment results among University of Defence students in the Czech Republic from 2022 to 2025, with a focus on differences between faculties. The analysis was based on administrative data from standardized testing and combined both cross-sectional and longitudinal approaches. Endurance was assessed using the 12-minute run (Cooper test), while the strength component was evaluated by the maximum number of pull-ups for males and the flexed-arm hang for females. The results showed no statistically significant differences between faculties in endurance performance among either males or females. Statistically significant differences between faculties were found only among males in the strength discipline, with the highest values observed among students of the Military Faculty of Medicine. The longitudinal analysis revealed that physical performance development during the study is not linear and varies by sex, faculty, and discipline type. For males, a clear increase in strength performance was observed across all faculties, while endurance performance showed a less stable pattern, including a temporary decline in some groups. The transition between the first and second year of study proved to be a critical period, during which some students experienced a decrease in endurance performance alongside an improvement in strength abilities. The findings of this study may contribute to the optimization of physical training during military university education and to a better consideration of the specific characteristics of individual study programmes.

This study examines the reliability of financial reporting in the Russian defence industry amidst the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the resulting Western sanctions. Using Benford’s Law, the authors analyse accounting data (Total Assets, Turnover, and Profit/Loss) from selected strategic sectors (NACE 2540, 3030, and 3040) between 2015 and 2024. The results reveal a significant and growing deviation from the theoretical distribution of leading digits, particularly following the 2022 invasion. Specific anomalies—such as the anomalous excess of the digit 1 in Total Assets and the concentration of digits 2 and 9 in Profit/Loss—point to systematic asset padding, creative margin management, and the use of accounting as a tool for strategic disinformation. The analysis suggests that while Russian authorities attempt to maintain a facade of economic stability through “controlled fiction”, statistical testing uncovers underlying institutional stress, asset degradation, and the shift towards a closed-loop war economy. The study concludes that Benford’s Law is a vital tool for detecting operational paralysis and information manipulation when primary data are classified or unreliable.