Russia expands military training for children in occupied Crimea
Russian occupying authorities are incorporating schoolchildren and students in Crimea into military activities, including drone operation, shooting, rifle assembly and drill training. Ukrainian intelligence says such programs aim to normalize war and military ideology among young people in occupied territories.
Key points
- Children and students in occupied Crimea are taught to operate drones, shoot and assemble weapons.
- Drone training uses simulators, real drones and equipment from the Russian military.
- Crimean schools hold shooting classes, Kalashnikov rifle assembly lessons and drill training.
- Around 50 children aged 7 to 18 reached a regional stage of drone-racing competitions in Sevastopol in late October.
- Military-themed quests for children involve participants in the war against Ukraine.
- Ukraine's Main Intelligence Directorate reports the militarization of schoolchildren and students in occupied Crimea.
- GUR assesses that Russia is normalizing war and military preparation among children in occupied territories.
Why it matters
The training exposes children and students to weapons, military technology and combat-oriented activities, showing how the occupation has extended into schools and educational institutions. It may normalize war, encourage violent behavior and strengthen Russia's long-term military and ideological influence among young residents of occupied territory.
What happened
Russian military personnel are training children and students in Crimea to operate drones, while schools also conduct shooting lessons, Kalashnikov rifle assembly and military drill. Instruction in Sevastopol uses simulators, real drones and Russian military equipment. Children also take part in military-themed quests featuring participants in the war against Ukraine, and around 50 young people reached a regional drone-racing stage in late October. The occupation administration recruits people into Russian security structures, promotes contract service in unmanned systems, installs memorial boards for fallen Russian soldiers and advances veterans of the war against Ukraine into administrative positions.
How Ukrainian sources describe it
Ukrainian coverage emphasizes the reported and confirmed militarization of children in occupied Crimea, particularly drone operation, shooting, rifle assembly and drill training. Reporting also highlights recruitment into Russian security structures and the promotion of participants in the war against Ukraine to administrative positions. GUR's central assessment is that these measures are intended to normalize war and military ideology among young people in occupied territory.
Background
Drone-operator training in Russia is described as part of the federal course on the basics of national security and defence. Military personnel who fought against Ukraine conduct some school drone-training sessions, while similar classes have been introduced in schools in the Kursk, Nizhny Novgorod and Vologda regions. Vladivostok was also considering including drone instruction in mathematics and physics courses.