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Russian Lawmaker Pushes for Mandatory Military Training in Schools Starting at Age 11

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Vlad Litnarovych
Vlad Litnarovych
Author
Russian Lawmaker Pushes for Mandatory Military Training in Schools Starting at Age 11
Cadets examine weapons during a gathering by the revived Soviet military-patriotic movement Yunarmiya – the Young Army – in Moscow on October 12, 2016. (Source: Getty Images)

A Russian lawmaker has called for expanding mandatory military training in schools, arguing that children as young as fifth grade should learn combat survival skills, the proposal was made by Viktor Vodolatsky, deputy head of the Russian State Duma Committee on CIS Affairs, Eurasian Integration, and Relations with Compatriots, The Moscow Times reported on March 17.

“After the events in the Kursk region, we need to revive military training in schools because children must be able to protect themselves and their families. That’s why we need to start from the fifth grade, not just in grades 9-10. Then, our population will be ready for any action, for any provocation,” Vodolatsky said.

The lawmaker claimed that before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, people lacked basic first aid knowledge, such as how to apply bandages or tourniquets.

He also stated that residents did not know how to hide from drones.

According to him, many wounded individuals in Russia’s Belgorod region survived recent Ukrainian strikes thanks to “cadets from the 'Warrior' center"—a military propaganda club created under orders from Vladimir Putin to train a “new generation of patriots.”

Russia reinstated Soviet-era military training in schools after launching its war against Ukraine. In November 2022, Russian Education Minister Sergey Kravtsov announced that military instruction would become part of the school curriculum.

Starting from the 2023-2024 academic year, military training has been integrated into the “Basics of Life Safety” course for 10th and 11th graders.

From 2024 onward, the subject will be renamed “Fundamentals of Security and Defense of the Motherland” (OBZR).

The program teaches students marching drills, battlefield first aid, group coordination in combat, sheltering during air raids, and handling hand grenades. Similar courses are also being introduced in vocational schools as the Kremlin continues to militarize its education system.

Earlier, Putin ordered the launch of nationwide military-patriotic games called “Family Zarnitsa “, requiring parents and children to participate.

According to a directive issued following a meeting of the Russian Victory Organizing Committee, the Kremlin administration and the Defense Ministry must develop a competition framework involving physical, intellectual, and creative challenges for families across all regions of Russia.

“The Presidential Administration of the Russian Federation, together with the Ministry of Defense, shall prepare and submit proposals for organizing the ‘Family Zarnitsa’ competition in all regions of Russia.

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Zarnitsa (All-Union Young Pioneer military sports game Zarnitsa) was a massive children’s war game organized within the Young Pioneers organization. The game was an imitation of military actions (reconnaissance, battles, etc.) The word zarnitsa literally means “heat lightning”. The game’s rules are based on capture the flag concept. Two teams each have a base with a flag on it. Their goal is to take over the opponent’s flag and preserve their own. Every player has two shoulder straps that serve as health indicators and can be torn off by the opponents. Losing one indicates “wounded”, losing two indicates “dead”. The “wounded” players cannot run and should only walk. The “dead” players leave the game. It was intended for schoolchildren of 4–7 classes (10–13) years. A similar game, Orlyonok, was for older schoolchildren.