Russia expands drone management training for schoolchildren as part of educational militarization
The Foreign Intelligence Service reported that Russia has purchased 18,000 drones for schools, aiming to teach teenagers to operate unmanned aerial vehicles amid the ongoing militarization of education.
According to the FIS, drone management training begins from grades 8-9, with the goal of preparing young people for modern combat experience. This course, which started in 2023, aims to involve children in armed conflicts. In 2024, about 47 million US dollars were spent on purchasing drones for 18,000 schools, and by 2030, the Kremlin plans to equip 4,872 schools and 380 colleges with drones.
As part of this initiative, specialized centers are being established in the regions of the country based in colleges, new training classes, flight zones, and 3D printing sections are being equipped. Even teachers are involved in combat aspects training. In September 2024, Russia released an official textbook for studying drones, developed in collaboration with “Geoscan,” a company controlled by the fund of the Russian president’s daughter, Katerina Tikhonova.
FIS experts emphasize that the course towards the militarization of education amid aggression against Ukraine violates international conventions on children’s rights and creates a generation ready for conflict escalation. Meanwhile, according to US data, Russia continues military training for children at new facilities inside the country, currently numbering about 250.
We add clarifying information: On October 30, Ukrainian police discovered lists of “Yunarmiya” leaders in the Donetsk region who recruited children for the Russian army, 10 of these individuals have already been declared suspects.
