Get you up to speed: Russian children aged 11 are taking part in military training | News World
Russia has increased the required military training for children aged 11 to 17 to a total of at least 17 hours, as announced by Education Minister Sergei Kravtsov. The revised course, “Fundamentals of Homeland Security and Defence,” will involve lessons on drones, combat skills, and firearm handling, with classes potentially commencing in September in occupied Crimea.
The ‘Fundamentals of Homeland Security and Defence’ course will now comprise a total of 51 hours of material, with at least 17 hours allocated to basic military training. Classes in this revised format are anticipated to commence as soon as September in occupied Crimea.
Russia’s Education Minister Sergei Kravtsov announced that the military training course for children will now include at least 17 hours of basic military instruction, with classes potentially beginning in occupied Crimea as early as September. This enhancement in military training comes amid escalating tensions with NATO and follows recent developments, including the construction of a military base near Finland’s border, which may raise security concerns for the region.
What remains unclear — It is uncertain when the military training courses for children will officially start in occupied Crimea.
Russia increases mandatory military training for children aged 11 to 17
Russia has doubled the amount of required military training for children between the ages of 11 and 17.
Courses now include lessons on drones, field exercises and firearm training, education minister Sergei Kravtsov said.
The course, known as ‘Fundamentals of Homeland Security and Defence’, will now include at least 17 hours of basic military training, adding to the 34 hours of material in total.
Schools require young students to study Russian military history, civil service, wartime survival, combat skills, firearm handling, and even learn how to use grenades.
The classes in their new format could begin as soon as September in occupied Crimea, according to Kommersant.
Students are taught first aid and field work (Picture: Shutterstock)
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In 2024, it was revealed that children in Russia were being trained on how to protect themselves in a nuclear attack.
Students learn about ‘the combat properties and damaging effects of mass destruction weapons, as well as methods of protection against them’.
The new training also comes amid heightened tensions between NATO and Russia.
Russia recently began construction on a new military base eerily close to Finland’s eastern border for the first time since the USSR collapsed.
Aerial photos show a dozen new barracks under construction after work began in late 2025 to clear forest nearby.
Children are taught how to use Kalashnikov rifles (Picture: Shutterstock)
The base could accommodate between 4,000 and 6,000 personnel, military expert and former Finnish intelligence officer Marko Eklund found.
The new base and the installation of troops there could pose a security issue for Finland, which shares an 830-mile border with Russia.
Slowly, Russia is re-establishing the Leningrad military district for defensive capabilities – likely hoping to use it in an offensive, if it is able to in the future.
Russia has been beefing up its military presence after Sweden and Finland joined NATO years ago in response to Russian threats made following its invasion of Ukraine.
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