With the start of the school year, the Russian state is introducing and financing a new military training module across the country. This module is part of a new program called "Foundations of Homeland Security and Defense" for children aged 15 to 18.
This information was reported by the British Ministry of Defense on X (Twitter).
According to the briefing, the course consists of 11 modules requiring 68 instructional hours. The course will cover various topics, including general military combat and familiarity with firearms. It aims to "develop values, acquire knowledge and skills that ensure readiness to fulfill the constitutional duty of defending the state."
According to British intelligence, the program will lead to a more militarized society.
The new youth strategy, approved by the government in August 2024, is aimed at enhancing the prestige of military service, fostering patriotism and civic responsibility, but primarily preparing conscription-age adolescents both mentally and physically for military service. Additionally, there is an increase in the number of summer camps for children participating in various military activities.
The strategy emphasizes that over the past 30 years, youth values have shifted from collectivism to individualism and from statism to cosmopolitanism. It argues that the ideological expansionism of Russia's geopolitical competitors has led to a weakening of traditional values and an increase in individualism.
