MUSEUM NEWS

In a concerning development, Russia is intensifying efforts to militarize its youth by integrating military training into educational programs across the country. Children as young as eight are being subjected to military-style exercises, including handling firearms and explosives, under the supervision of war veterans. These activities are part of a broader initiative to instill patriotism and prepare the next generation for military service.

The Kremlin has also introduced a new school curriculum that includes drone piloting and military tactics. A state-approved textbook titled Unmanned Aerial Vehicles: 8th and 9th Grades is now part of the national education system. This curriculum aims to train students in drone operations, which have become a significant component of Russia’s military strategy.

Furthermore, investigations have revealed that minors are being involved in the production of military drones. Teens are reportedly participating in assembling drones used in attacks on Ukraine, raising serious concerns about child labor and the ethical implications of such practices.

Human rights organizations and international observers have condemned these actions, viewing them as a form of indoctrination and a violation of children’s rights. The integration of military training into education not only endangers the well-being of children but also poses long-term risks to societal peace and stability.

• Putin’s Twisted Drone Scheme Now Has Kids Helping to Kill Kids
• Russian kids learn to throw grenades, carry rifles in training to be next generation of Putin’s military
• Russia using children to design and test its military drones, investigation finds

The Guardian investigation reveals how children in Russia are being involved in the design and testing of military drones.

Starting September 1, Russian kindergartens will officially launch the “Conversations About Important Things” program — patriotic lessons for children as young as three. The Education Ministry says the initiative will teach “family, friendship, kindness, honesty, and love for the Motherland,” but in practice it marks the spread of state propaganda into preschool classrooms.

The program will begin in 100 kindergartens across Moscow, Chukotka, the Yamalo-Nenets region, Perm Krai, Amur, Nizhny Novgorod, and Vologda — as well as in the occupied territories of Donetsk, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia. Education Minister Sergey Kravtsov told RBC that teachers will be tasked with instilling “respect for Russia’s culture and history” and shaping “worthy citizens of the country.”

In reality, such lessons have already been held. In October 2024, Putin personally endorsed the idea of “conversations” with preschoolers. Soon after, teachers in several regions reported holding patriotic sessions that included war veterans, poems about the “special military operation,” and campaigns to collect gifts “for soldiers.” On Constitution Day, children were even given portraits of Putin to take home.

Source: Important Stories

After a decade of meticulous work, the animated short The Unwritten Play has finally been completed. Directed by Irina Litmanovich and co-written with writer and journalist Viktor Shenderovich, the 15-minute film offers a rare fusion of theater and animation, featuring a unique artistic approach—a stage circle with flat marionettes.

The story captures a single day in the life of celebrated playwright and poet Alexander Volodin, weaving in metaphors and symbolism characteristic of his works. Audiences witness Volodin, a State Prize laureate, navigating bureaucratic absurdities and personal tragedies—a portrayal that reflects both the spirit of the era and the intimate struggles of the artist.

The idea for the film originated from Shenderovich’s book-album The 22nd Trolleybus and Other Etudes, where one chapter was dedicated to Volodin. Litmanovich, a student of the legendary animator Yuri Norstein, is renowned for blending humor with poetic depth, and here she paints a nuanced portrait of a 20th-century poet: a man without a sensational biography, yet deeply loved and admired for his integrity and talent.

The Unwritten Play has been selected for the Stop-eMotion (SeM) Days festival in Venice, celebrating the art of stop-motion animation. However, the film cannot be screened in Russia due to Shenderovich’s designation as a “foreign agent.”

Beyond its artistic achievement, the film is a powerful act of civic courage, reminding the world of the importance of freedom of expression and the protection of artists’ rights. Despite its restricted access at home, it resonates strongly with audiences worldwide.

For more on the film and its creators, visit Sever.Realii.

In August 2025, it became known that Russia’s Ministry of Education had circulated new guidelines that effectively turn teachers into surveillance agents.

The document, uncovered by independent outlet Verstka, instructs educators to monitor students’ behavior, beliefs, and even family backgrounds — and to share this information with law enforcement.

According to the manual, teachers are expected to:

• Analyze students’ conversations on political, social, and religious topics.
• Track “disrespect” toward Russian state symbols, “traditional values,” and the official “Talks About Important Things” program.
• Examine notebooks, drawings, and writings unrelated to classwork.
• Note clothing or symbols that may reflect a student’s origin or political affiliation.

The guidelines advise teachers to conduct informal interviews with “suspicious” students, check parents’ names against the Interior Ministry’s registry of monitored individuals, and involve police, prosecutors, and security services when necessary.

Students may also be “profiled” through tests and questionnaires assessing their knowledge of Russian, their self-identification, and their attitude toward nationality.

Human rights advocates warn that these measures formalize the role of teachers as informants, undermining trust between students and educators and fostering a climate of constant surveillance in schools.

The document was developed with input from the Federal Coordination Resource Center for Psychological and Socio-Cultural Adaptation of Foreign Minors, the Center for the Protection of Children’s Rights and Interests, and representatives of the Interior Ministry.