Russian veterans will teach children war tactics at school

Russian President Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine hasn't turned out to be the short and sweet "special military operation" that he had hoped. As a result, Russia is burning through soldiers quickly as war casualties build up. However, Putin seems to be thinking about the future with the creation of a new course for school children.

According to an article by Reuters, the Russian government has announced that it has developed a program in which Russian veterans of the war in Ukraine will be trained at a specialized centre to teach children war tactics in school.

Using Russian veterans who fought in Ukraine to train young people falls in line with statements Putin made in July 2023, claiming he wanted war veterans to have a purpose and have an active role in civilian life.

In an announcement made on September 6, 2023, the Russian Ministry of Education said the veterans will teach schoolchildren essential skills such as how to use hand grenades and a Kalashnikov.

The course, which is called "Fundamentals of Security and Defence of the Motherland," will also teach youngsters the basic principles of self-defence.

As reported by the Russian state news agency TASS, on September 6, Sergei Kravtsov, the Russian education minister, said in a statement:
"... A centre has been created this year ... to retrain teacher-veterans of the special military operation, and those who have taken part in combat, to implement the rollout of a new course that prioritizes practical training."

The Russian government is not trying to disguise their motives for beginning military training and indoctrination of the nation youth at such a young age.

In their statement on September 6, the Minister of Education said, "The new curriculum serves three objectives: to indoctrinate students with the Kremlin rationale for the 'Special Military Operation', instil students with a martial mindset, and reduce training timelines for onward mobilization and deployment."

At the moment, only some parts of the course are being introduced into Russian schools; however, the Ministry of Education says it plans to have the course in full operation by September 1, 2024.

CBC News reported that currently, in what seems like a return to Soviet-era tactics, secondary school students in grades 10 and 11 will begin with basic military training, battlefield first-aid training, and a specialized course on how to use combat drones.

Creating this military training course for schoolchildren is just the most recent of Putin's plans to overhaul the school system and increase military influence among Russian civilians. Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, the Kremlin decided to revamp the Russian school curriculum.

Apart from the physical training of students, Vladimir Putin also insisted that school textbooks be changed in September of 2022.

Per an article on the subject by CBC News, the new textbooks have changed history and given a new "interpretation" of why the Soviet Union fell, along with a heavy focus on Putin's time as president of Russia and all the good he has done.

Naturally, Putin's justification of why Russia must fight against Ukraine is included in the new textbooks. Furthermore, according to a statement made by the United Kingdom's Ministry of Defence on September 6, students must also answer questions on history exams about the "reunification" of Crimea and the "special military operation" in Ukraine.

There is little doubt that young Russians are being heavily indoctrinated to keep support up for a war that doesn't look like it will be ending any time soon.

And anyone who isn't happy about this brainwashing is far too afraid to speak up; teachers and parents face jail-time if they say anything against the war in Ukraine or criticise the government.