Murmansk school hires soldier from Ukraine war to teach children how to operate drones
In the governor's lyceum in the city of Murmansk, teenagers are taught to operate drones. Although this is presented as an opportunity to acquire a sought-after profession, the main goal of such lessons is to prepare children for participation in war.
One of the lessons from the drone management course is featured in a segment on the state propaganda channel GTRK Murman. Lessons on working with drones are part of the subject "Fundamentals of security and homeland protection".
According to the director of the lyceum, Larisa Mikhailova, classes are held "both during and outside school hours."
Although drones are currently used in many areas of life - from searching for missing people to filming movies - this course is not intended for further peaceful activities.
From the TV news about the drone teaching, it is easy to understand what the leadership of the governor's lyceum are preparing the children for. The guest at the lesson was Yegor Shubin, a soldier who have fought in Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
He is today partly invalid and part of the program "Heroes of the North."
During the lesson, Shubin showed videos of real combat operations to the children. In particular, he showed the destruction of a Ukrainian mortar by a kamikaze drone. In another video, also real, the teenagers saw the destruction of a Ukrainian tank.
It is worth noting that such imposition of military themes is still critically perceived by teenagers. For example, one of the students in the segment says that she is "interested in figuring out how it works (drone management)", but adds that this knowledge "can be applied not only in the military structure but also for filming movies or beautiful views, for example, of our Arctic".
It is clear from the report that Shubin did not talk about his personal combat experience in the lesson, and this is understandable — such a story could deter the desire to go to war.
Egor Shubin received a summons by the armed forces in early October 2022, ten days after the start of mobilisation. Despite having an exemption and being the sole carer for two children, he went to the combat zone.
During one of the missions, a tank 'randomly fired' at his unit. As a result, Shubin's arm and leg were injured, and according to him, 'there was heavy bleeding, apparently because some vessel was damaged'.
It is known from the report about Shubin that doctors in Belgorod fought for his life. Due to significant blood loss, his kidneys almost stopped functioning, and his bones were severely shattered. There was talk of amputating his arm and leg, but this was avoided.
After Shubin was transferred to another to a hospital belonging to the Northern Fleet, he spent almost a year there and underwent nine operations. According to him, almost all the muscles in his arm were severed, and only his index finger moved; now he 'basically works with all his fingers'. In his leg, a tank shell fragment 'knocked out 18 and a half centimetres of the tibia', and only thanks to the doctors was the leg saved. Nevertheless, judging by the TV report, Shubin now moves only with the help of crutches.
Barents Observer has repeatedly reported on the dangers of military propaganda among children, but it can be assumed that such stories could help children understand how real war differs from the 'heroic' picture that the Russian government tries to paint.
Let us recall that earlier Barents Observer reported that two new schools have opened in Murmansk and Arkhangelsk, where training in drone operation is organised. We also reported on how younger schoolchildren in Komi are being drawn into the military agenda through 'Family Studies' lessons.
