British intelligence explains why military training returns to Russian schools

That’s according to the British Defense Ministry referring to their intelligence, Ukrinform reports.

"On 9 November, Education Minister Sergey Kravtsov stated that military training will return to Russian schools, beginning in September 2023. Russian officials attempted to revive this training in 2014 following Russia’s invasion of Crimea. It was hoped that the initiative would improve the quality of conscripts. Eight years later, little has changed, and the quality of Russian conscripts remains poor, with low morale and limited training. A training programme is currently being drafted and will be completed by the end of 2022. It will then undergo an approval process,” the agency wrote.

It is noted that the Ministry of Defense supports this process, stating that at least 140 hours per academic year should be devoted to this training.

“This training likely intends to prepare students with military skills as they approach conscription age and to increase the take-up for mobilisation and conscription drives. This initiative is also likely to be part of a wider project to install an ideology of patriotism and trust in public institutions in the Russian population," the British Ministry of Defense added.

The course itself is a Soviet-era programme (ended in 1993), during which students underwent mandatory military training. It included contingencies for a chemical or nuclear attack, first aid, and experience handling and firing Kalashnikov rifles.

As reported by Ukrinform, the Russian Federation is handing out new instructions to journalists against the background of growing discontent among the population, in particular due to the mobilization effort.