Russian schools are undergoing a steady, purposeful transformation. A Wall Street Journal investigation shows that military-style lessons, soldier involvement and war-linked material are increasingly part of everyday education, beginning from the earliest grades.

The changes didn’t appear overnight. They began after the 2014 annexation of Crimea but have accelerated sharply since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Soldiers are now part of classroom life

In the Kursk region, first-graders recently took part in a uniform inspection led by a soldier who had served in Ukraine. This isn’t an isolated case. According to The Wall Street Journal, active-duty servicemen now work with schools across the country, sometimes leading drills or supervising discipline.

Some soldiers were pres

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