Schools in Russia Transformed into “Sewing Battalions” to Supply Frontline Troops

More than 1,000 Russian schools across 77 regions have been identified as manufacturing hubs where children produce military equipment and clothing for the Russian invasion of Ukraine, The Moscow Times reported on March 25, 2026.

According to an investigation by Verstka and the Ne Norma project, at least 1,017 schools have integrated the production of military gear directly into the curriculum. Students are primarily tasked with these “combat assignments” during mandatory “Technology” lessons, which became a required part of the Russian school system on September 1, 2024.

The items produced range from trench candles and camouflage nets to specialized clothing, including socks, underwear, and balaclavas. In total, the investigation identified 57 different types of military equipment currently being manufactured by minors.

Exploiting the Curriculum for Child Labor

The use of students for military production is not limited to shop classes. Schools are reportedly utilizing “Talks about Important Things” (propaganda lessons), after-school programs, and even breaks between classes to meet production quotas. Teachers and parents revealed that opting out is extremely difficult because the work is framed as an educational requirement, The Moscow Times wrote.

One teacher from the Vladimir region admitted that students showing “dissatisfaction” with the war were “persuaded and convinced” by staff to participate.

The scale of these “sewing battalions” is most prominent in regions suffering the highest casualty rates. Bashkortostan, which currently leads Russia in confirmed war deaths, also has the highest number of schools (67) involved in military manufacturing. Tatarstan and the Krasnodar Territory follow closely behind.

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War in Ukraine

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Funding the Front at Home

Despite the widespread nature of the practice, materials and funding are rarely provided by the state. Instead, teachers, parents, and local citizens are often pressured to donate money or supplies. While Kremlin-aligned regional officials claim this work is a “voluntary activity for those who care,” the data shows a systematic increase in school participation over the last four years, with over 150 new reports of school-based military production surfacing between September 2025 and February 2026 alone, according to The Moscow Times.

The mobilization of the Russian education system occurs as the Kremlin cannibalizes every sector of society to sustain its invasion. Faced with a federal budget deficit that reached $22.3 billion in January 2026 alone—nearly half of the annual target—the state is shifting the burden of military production onto local communities and children to offset the staggering cost of the Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

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