Russian teens will learn to operate and combat military drones next school year, according to a curriculum released Monday by the education ministry.
Moscow announced last November that it would reintroduce Soviet-style military training for children from 2023 as it continues its nearly 18-month offensive in Ukraine.
The drone course, which will be offered to students between the ages of 15 and 17, takes place at a time when Russian territory is attacked almost daily by Ukrainian drones and its use is becoming fundamental in the conflict.
According to the Ministry of Education’s website, students will “understand the ways unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) can be used in combat” and will also “perform hands-on tasks in piloting drones”, as well as “learn the algorithm to target enemy against drones”.
“The introduction of such a program in schools will make it possible to systematically prepare our citizens for a possible confrontation with the enemy,” lawmaker Sergei Mironov said in November 2022 when defending the reintroduction of training.
The revised military program also includes a module dedicated to Kalashnikov assault rifles, hand grenades and shooting.
Since Moscow launched full-scale hostilities against Ukraine on February 24, 2022, Russian authorities have waged an extensive campaign to increase patriotism in schools.
Schools were ordered to play the national anthem and raise the flag at the beginning of each week.
The Kremlin has also introduced lessons — dubbed “important talks” — that teach World War II revisionism, Russian values, and Moscow’s official narrative of its troops “protecting” compatriots in Ukraine.
Source: DN
