Russia Opens First Children's School for War Drones... Drone Textbook Also Published

War Veterans Hired as Instructors for Ukraine Conflict Experience
Russia Sets Goal to Train 1 Million Drone Experts

On the 27th of last month (local time), veterans of the Ukraine war are teaching children how to use drones at a children's unmanned aerial vehicle (drone) training school established in Krasnodar, southern Russia. Telegram

Russia has established its first children's unmanned aerial vehicle (drone) training school. At this school, veterans serve as instructors, teaching children how to operate and build military drones. After making drone classes mandatory in high schools last year, the Russian government now plans to extend this program to elementary schools as well. Drone textbooks for middle school students have already been produced and distributed to some schools.

Russia Opens First Drone School for Children... Most Instructors Are War Veterans

On the 27th of last month (local time), Evgeny Naumov, mayor of Krasnodar, attended the opening ceremony of a children's drone training school established in Krasnodar, Russia. Telegram

The city of Krasnodar in southern Russia announced on September 27 (local time) that it had opened a children's drone training school. This school provides hands-on instruction for children to build military drones using 3D printers and various materials and teaches them how to operate these drones. Most of the teachers and instructors are veterans who have operated drones in the Ukraine war.

Evgeny Naumov, mayor of Krasnodar, who attended the opening ceremony, stated, "Students will be able to develop precise drone operation skills and scientific talents," adding, "I hope the education provided by experienced veterans will also benefit children eager to learn new drone technologies." This is the first time Russia has established a drone school specifically for children.

Since September last year, the Russian government has implemented military drone training for high school students and is now considering expanding the program to middle and elementary schools. In May, Russian drone manufacturer Geoscan and the state textbook publisher Prosveshcheniye jointly published a drone textbook for 8th grade students (aged 15-16). Currently, 523 schools across Russia are using this textbook in their classes.

Goal to Train 1 Million Drone Experts... Allegations of Youth Recruitment for Military Drone Design

Students assembling drones in a practical class at a high school in Russia. Since last year, drone classes have been adopted as basic military education in Russian high schools, and this year, they have also been included in the textbooks. Telegram

According to the daily newspaper Vedomosti, Russia plans to train more than 40,000 university students in the drone field this year and increase that number to 180,000 by 2030. A Ministry of Education official stated, "The Russian government has plans to expand the number of military drone experts to over 1 million."

There have even been allegations that some military drone companies have secretly recruited teenagers and involved them in design work. The British newspaper The Guardian reported that in 2022, the Russian government launched "Berloga," a drone operation simulation game, and awarded students with high scores bonus points on their midterm and final exams.

Additionally, students with high game scores are gathered for competitions, and the three finalists are either hired by military drone manufacturers or participate in drone design projects. Some students are reportedly involved in classified military projects as well.

There is growing criticism both inside and outside Russia regarding military education and mobilization targeting students and even preschool children. The independent Russian media outlet Novaya Gazeta commented, "The opening of the children's drone training school demonstrates the growing importance of drones in the Ukraine war."