A report published on November 14, 2025, reveals that Russia is systematically embedding military-style training and state ideology into its education system, transforming schooling into a tool for state-shaping and patriotic development. This overhaul includes introducing mandatory basic military training for high school students, incorporating regular military drills, and increasing the number of active-duty and retired military personnel serving as instructors in schools nationwide.
The integration of this training is being supported by significant budget increases directed toward “patriotic education” programs. These initiatives are designed to foster loyalty, prepare young people for military service, and align the next generation with the Kremlin’s political narrative regarding the war in Ukraine and Russia’s geopolitical stance. The curriculum now heavily emphasizes historical revisionism, traditional values, and a strong sense of national duty.
This fundamental transformation signals a shift in state priorities, emphasizing military preparedness and political socialization over purely academic development. The changes affect all levels of the education system, highlighting the government’s commitment to securing the workforce and military personnel needed for its long-term strategic goals.
