Summary and Key Points: As Russia's war in Ukraine drags on, the Kremlin is increasingly militarizing society, starting with high school students. The Russian Ministry of Education and military have introduced a program called "Foundations of Security and Defense of the Motherland" for 15 to 18-year-olds, which includes training in combined arms combat and small arms familiarization.

-This effort is part of a broader strategy to create a militarized society reminiscent of Soviet times, with an emphasis on patriotism, military service, and civic duty.

-The move reflects Putin's desire to reverse the societal shifts towards individualism and cosmopolitanism in post-Soviet Russia.

Russia's Youth Militarization: High Schoolers Trained for Combat

When Russian President Vladimir Putin decided for a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, he did not expect the war to take the course it took. 

Russian military and intelligence leadership prepared Putin for a “special military operation” that would last between three days and two weeks, with minimal casualties. More than 920 days later, the Russian forces are still trying to achieve some of its initial objectives, while taking more than 600,000 casualties. 

Russia is moving toward becoming an international pariah alongside partners Iran and North Korea. The Russian economy and defense industry are facing serious troubles, and mainly the sale of oil and natural gas keeps the lights running in the Kremlin. 

In response to these setbacks, the Kremlin has been militarizing Russian society, starting with schools. 

Combat Training for High Schoolers 

In its latest assessment of the war in Ukraine, British Military Intelligence focused on a new program the Russian Ministry of Education and military have rolled out for high school students. 

“As the school year begins across Russia, the Russian state is introducing and funding a new military training module. The module is part of a new programme called Foundations of Security and Defense of the Motherland for 15 to 18 year olds. The course has 11 modules, requiring 68 teaching hours. The course will cover a range of topics, including combined arms combat and small arms familiarization,” British Military Intelligence stated.

It is not the first time since the war began that the Kremlin is forcing Russian students to undergo military training. Previous training modules focused on small arms marksmanship, combat first aid, and physical training. 

The Kremlin’s goal with the Foundations of Security and Defense of the Motherland is to “[form] values, acquiring knowledge and skills that ensure readiness to fulfill the constitutional duty to protect the State.” 

The ultimate goal is the creation of a militarized society. And what better way to achieve that than by starting with children? The Kremlin introduced a new youth strategy in August that hinges on patriotism, military service, and civic duty. 

“There is additionally an increase in the number of summer camps for children which engage in various military activities,” British Military Intelligence assessed. 

But this is not just a course for high school students. Rather, it is a systematic shift of Russian society from the 21st century back to the core values of the Soviet Union. It is worth remembering that Putin served as KGB intelligence officer in Soviet Russia and has often lamented the dissolution of the Soviet Union. 

“The strategy notes that in the last 30 years youth values had shifted from collectivism to individualism and from statism to cosmopolitanism. It claims that the ideological expansionism of Russia’s geopolitical competitors had led to the weakening of traditional values and the growth of individualism. The new strategy aims to reverse that process, with the militarization of youth as an integral part of that process,” British Military Intelligence concluded. 

About the Author: 

Stavros Atlamazoglou is a seasoned defense journalist specializing in special operations and a Hellenic Army veteran (national service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army HQ). He holds a BA from the Johns Hopkins University and an MA from the Johns Hopkins’ School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). His work has been featured in Business Insider, Sandboxx, and SOFREP.

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