Russia’s new school year has begun with a new curriculum incorporating both military skills and the Kremlin’s view of the history of Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin personally held an open lesson with 30 schoolchildren on the first day of term, the UK Defense Intelligence reports. Topics in the updated national history exam include Crimean reunification with russia and the war in Ukraine.
Russia’s parliament approved the curriculum last year. One element, the Basics of Life Safety, is aimed towards senior students and includes a basic military training module. This will include handling Kalashnikovs, the use of hand grenades, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operations, and battlefield first aid. Pupils may also be visited by Ukraine veterans.
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The new curriculum serves three objectives: to indoctrinate students with the Kremlin rationale for the war, instil students with a martial mindset and reduce training timelines for onwards mobilization and deployment.
The introduction of UAV operations indicates their evolving importance on the battlefield and the lessons learnt about these systems directly from the conflict in Ukraine.
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