Russia is significantly expanding mandatory military training for high school students, with Education Minister Sergei Kravtsov announcing that 50% of a compulsory national defense course will be dedicated to such training by September 1. The curriculum, titled "Fundamentals of Homeland Security and Defense," applies to students in 6th through 11th grade.
Previously only 20% of the 34-hour course focused on military instruction, Kravtsov said. The shift more than doubles the time allocated to hands-on training, reflecting the country's deepening focus on national preparedness amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
The expanded training includes lessons on first aid, firearm handling, hand grenades, drones, and field exercises. Students will also study Russian military history, civic service, and wartime communication as part of the broader curriculum.
Kravtsov's announcement means at least 17 hours of the course will now involve direct military instruction each school year. The policy builds on earlier moves to introduce military basics into Russian schools since the invasion of Ukraine began.
Critics argue the move further militarizes education and narrows the curriculum at a time when young Russians face uncertainty about their future. The policy has drawn scrutiny from human rights observers abroad.