Drone lessons in kindergartens and schools: how Russia is drawing children into the military system

Russian educational institutions have significantly increased purchases of drones and related training software since the start of the full-scale war. According to Novaya Gazeta Europe’s calculations, nearly 16 billion rubles have been spent on this since 2022. Prior to 2022, spending was approximately 300–350 million rubles annually, primarily by technical colleges and specialized universities.

The increased interest in drones stems from their critical role in modern warfare, with drone strikes accounting for a significant portion of personnel losses on both sides. Russia seeks to develop a large reserve of trained personnel, including operators and engineers, starting from a young age. This is presented as technological and career-oriented education, but fundamentally involves early training for a militarized system.

Between 2019-2021, annual spending on drones by universities, colleges, and schools totaled 300–350 million rubles. This rose to 600 million in 2022, 2.6 billion in 2023, and over 9.7 billion in 2024, before decreasing to approximately 2.8 billion in 2025. Major contracts, totaling nearly 3.5 billion rubles, were awarded to Moscow government bodies for equipping schools and colleges.

Regional ministries of education are also significant clients. Companies like Geoscan, previously focused on aerial photography, have become major government contractors due to the national project “Unmanned Aerial Systems.” In 2023, the Innopraktika foundation, headed by Katerina Tikhonova, acquired a stake in Geoscan. Drone lessons are now integrated into the curriculum, particularly in grades 7-9, with 15 hours dedicated to assembly, programming, and operation, including the use of FPV goggles.

While formally, simulators can replace practical lessons, teachers are trained at the “Voin” military-sports training center, with many instructors having combat experience. The integration of drone knowledge is also being implemented through the “Fundamentals of Security and Homeland Defense” subject. Schools are expected to equip nearly 5,000 schools and about 400 colleges with UAVs.

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