Russian Ministry of Education Increasing Military Training in School Curriculum by 30%

Starting September 1, 2026, the proportion of basic military training in the subject “Fundamentals of Security and Homeland Defense”—previously known as ‘OBZH’—will increase in Russian schools from 20% to 50% of instructional time.

This was reported by The Insider.

The OBZR subject was introduced for students in grades 6–11. The basic military training program includes studying drones and training exercises.

The head of the agency, Sergey Kravtsov, stated on June 25 during a meeting with participants and veterans of the war against Ukraine that since 2020, the authorities have been implementing a “unified system of educational work” in schools.

This system includes flag-raising ceremonies and the singing of the national anthem, “Conversations About What Matters,” the ‘First Movers’ program, career guidance activities, as well as recommendations for watching films and reading literature outside of class.

The methodological guidelines for the 2025–2026 curriculum state that “In the current environment, as existing global and regional challenges and threats to Russia’s security intensify and new ones emerge (a sharp rise in military tensions in border regions; the ongoing spread of extremist and terrorist ideologies; a significant deterioration in medical and biological living conditions; disruptions to the ecological balance; and others), security issues are becoming increasingly prioritized, and their importance extends not only to the individual but also to society and the state.”

As early as 2023, Russian authorities announced a large-scale program to train one million UAV pilots and actively involve schoolchildren in this process.