Russia expands military-style education with mandatory drone course for students
Students during drone operation training (photo: Getty Images)
Russian authorities continue to intensify the militarization of the higher education system, increasingly integrating educational institutions into training personnel for the military sector, Ukraine's Center for Countering Disinformation reports.
In particular, starting September 1, 2026, all transport-related higher education institutions in Russia are expected to introduce a mandatory basic course on unmanned systems.
The new program will cover 19 specialized universities and 86 of their branches across different regions of the country.
As the Center for Countering Disinformation assessed, at least 150,000 university students will undergo the training. Including students at specialized colleges, the total number of participants is expected to exceed 250,000.
The Center believes the skills acquired through the program could be used by Russian authorities to further involve young people in the war against Ukraine.
"Such steps once again confirm that the current Russian authorities have absolutely no interest in education or development of people," the agency said.
It also emphasized that Russia's educational system becomes increasingly focused on producing personnel to meet state and military needs.
"The state does not need qualified professionals capable of critical thinking. Today, the Russian system of education functions solely as an assembly line turning students into obedient human resources and 'cannon fodder' for war,” the Center concluded.
Earlier, the Center for Countering Disinformation reported that Russian authorities had cut tens of thousands of university places in humanities and social science programs while expanding educational benefits for participants in the war and their families.
According to the Center, this demonstrates that the Kremlin is increasingly subordinating the education system to the needs of war.
