The college, based in 1954 in a white Victorian townhouse, is likely one of the oldest amongst 80 Russian embassy faculties worldwide.
The Embassy of the Russian Federation in London (Picture: Getty Photographs)
Youngsters are being taught to make use of battlefield drones at a Russian embassy college in west London. The college, run by the Russian international ministry and positioned in Notting Hill, educates youngsters of diplomats and spies, in addition to a small variety of pupils whose dad and mom usually are not Russian officers, together with some with British citizenship.
Lesson plans for the 2025-26 tutorial 12 months present that Yr 10 pupils, aged 15 and 16, had an hour-long class final month on the fundamentals of technical preparation and communications for fight drones. Different classes final time period lined fortifications engineering, two periods on battlefield first help, and safety in opposition to radiological, organic and chemical weapons.
These type a part of a course known as Fundamentals of Safety and Safety of the Motherland (OBZR), launched in Russian faculties at the beginning of the 2024/2025 tutorial 12 months.
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the state curriculum has grow to be extra propagandistic and militaristic.
OBZR changed Fundamentals of Life Security, which included navy parts however targeted on civilian dangers and prevention. Below the earlier course, pupils on the college discovered to assemble Kalashnikov rifles and simulated grenade throws with tennis balls within the playground.
As reported by The Occasions, the brand new OBZR course displays adjustments in warfare from the Russo-Ukrainian battle, the place drones trigger three in 4 casualties on each side.
The college’s curriculum doc states that pupils aged between 15 and 17 should study strategies of fight use for unmanned autonomous automobiles and the historical past of robotic techniques.
The plan, particular to the embassy college, was signed off in September by headmaster Alexander Pogorelov.
It additionally requires instruction in correct weapon firing, trench constructing, formation marching, and variations between conscripted and contracted navy service.
Ian Garner, creator of Z Era, stated: “College students on the embassy college are studying very actual navy expertise. This isn’t a course designed to maintain secure within the occasion of an emergency.
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“These are programs which are saying to youngsters who’re learning in England that you should align your self with a navy id, you want to have the ability to combat as a result of the warfare is already occurring and it’s surrounding you as a Russian.”
The college, based in 1954 in a white Victorian townhouse, is likely one of the oldest amongst 80 Russian embassy faculties worldwide, all educating the state curriculum underneath international ministry oversight.
A portrait of Russian President Vladimir Putin hangs within the entrance hallway and several other lecture rooms.
About 60 pupils aged seven to 18 attend full-time, 5 days every week over three phrases, with one other 40 in night lessons.
Second three Russian troopers give up to robotic
Historical past classes use a state-prescribed textbook by presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky, which describes the Ukraine warfare as a part of Russia’s historic mission and portrays Ukraine as a Western puppet aiming to destabilise Russia.
The college has held fundraising occasions for Russia’s warfare effort in Ukraine.
Pupils have included youngsters of suspected spies, such because the daughters of Colonel Maxim Elovik, expelled in Could 2024 as an undeclared navy intelligence officer. His daughters now stay in Russia.
As a part of the embassy, the college has diplomatic exemptions and isn’t overseen by the Division for Schooling or faculties inspectorate.
The Russian embassy was contacted for remark.
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