According to a comprehensive investigation by CNN, Russian schoolchildren are increasingly being educated in military practices. The report reveals that Russia is heavily investing in preparing its young generation for warfare.
Children as young as those in kindergarten are dressed in uniforms and undergo marching drills. Older children are taught skills like digging trenches and throwing grenades.
The focus on military training in Russian schools has been intensifying, with children as young as seven receiving basic military training and participating in military parades.
In addition to this, Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a law introducing a new mandatory course in Russian schools called
"The Fundamentals of Safety and Defense of the Motherland."
This course includes visits to military facilities and drone training. High school students are even trained in the use of live ammunition.
According to Russia's Education Minister, Sergei Kravtsov, there are approximately 10,000 "military-patriotic" clubs in Russian schools, involving around 250,000 individuals.
These clubs diverge significantly from regular school curricula, focusing instead on teaching about Russia's military successes and instilling military-patriotic values in children.
CNN also reports that schoolchildren are directly supporting the Russian military. For instance, teenage girls from the Russian city of Ussuriysk have been sewing bandages labeled "friend" or "enemy," while children from the city of Vladimir have been sewing balaclavas for soldiers.
