In Russia, there is again a rising trend of militarizing the educational space: eighth- and ninth-grade students are learning to operate unmanned aerial vehicles, which are officially presented as tools for shaping an understanding of modern combat experience. The program launched in 2023 aims to prepare children for participation in armed conflicts, where drones are used for reconnaissance, strikes, and potential casualties.
According to intelligence data, in 2024 around 18,000 unmanned aerial vehicles were purchased for 500 schools. The spending is estimated at 8.38 billion rubles.
By 2030, Moscow plans to provide drones to 4,872 schools and 380 colleges, as well as to train a million so-called specialists in unmanned systems. In the regions, specialized centers based at colleges are being created, where teachers are trained in ‘combat aspects’, they set up classrooms, flight zones and sections for 3D printing.
Additionally, in September 2024, the first official manual for studying unmanned aerial systems appeared, developed jointly with the Geoscan group, which is under the control of Putin’s daughter Kateryna Tikhonova’s foundation.
«Russia is witnessing a mass militarization of education: teenagers in grades 8–9 are learning to operate unmanned aerial vehicles, which, according to official aims, form a sense of modern combat experience. The program started in 2023 is aimed at preparing children to participate in armed conflicts where drones are used for reconnaissance, strikes and killings», the report says.
Implications and the Intelligence Community’s View
Intelligence underscores that such a initiative reflects Moscow’s systemic course toward militarizing education in the context of the aggression against Ukraine. Instead of peaceful skills, Russian children are mastering killing technologies, which violates the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and is shaping a generation ready for escalation of conflicts.
According to intelligence data, by 2030 there are plans to expand the use of drones in the educational process, increasing the coverage of educational institutions and the scale of procurement.
«Intelligence notes that this initiative reflects Moscow’s systemic course toward militarizing education in the context of the aggression against Ukraine. Instead of peaceful skills, Russian children are mastering killing technologies, which violates the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and forms a generation ready for escalation of conflicts.»
Overall, the Russian education system continues to develop tools that rally children around military topics and technologies oriented toward armed actions.
As previously reported, after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the number of kindergartens where “military” programs are implemented has significantly increased.
link