Children taught to use battlefield drones at Russian school in London

The Embassy of the Russian Federation in London (Image: Getty Images)

Children are being taught to use battlefield drones at a Russian embassy school in west London. The school, run by the Russian foreign ministry and located in Notting Hill, educates children of diplomats and spies, as well as a small number of pupils whose parents are not Russian officials, including some with British citizenship.

Lesson plans for the 2025-26 academic year show that Year 10 pupils, aged 15 and 16, had an hour-long class last month on the basics of technical preparation and communications for combat drones. Other lessons last term covered fortifications engineering, two sessions on battlefield first aid, and protection against radiological, biological and chemical weapons.

These form part of a course called Fundamentals of Security and Protection of the Motherland (OBZR), introduced in Russian schools at the start of the 2024/2025 academic year.

Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the state curriculum has become more propagandistic and militaristic.

OBZR replaced Fundamentals of Life Safety, which included military elements but focused on civilian risks and prevention. Under the previous course, pupils at the school learned to assemble Kalashnikov rifles and simulated grenade throws with tennis balls in the playground.

As reported by The Times, the new OBZR course reflects changes in warfare from the Russo-Ukrainian conflict, where drones cause three in four casualties on both sides.

Russian Embassy school in Notting Hill (Image: Wiki Commons)

The school's curriculum document states that pupils aged between 15 and 17 must learn methods of combat use for unmanned autonomous vehicles and the history of robotic systems.

The plan, specific to the embassy school, was signed off in September by headmaster Alexander Pogorelov.

It also requires instruction in accurate weapon firing, trench building, formation marching, and differences between conscripted and contracted military service.

Ian Garner, author of Z Generation, said: “Students at the embassy school are learning very real military skills. This isn’t a course designed to keep safe in the event of an emergency.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (Image: Getty)

“These are courses that are saying to kids who are studying in England that you need to align yourself with a military identity, you need to be able to fight because the war is already happening and it is surrounding you as a Russian.”

The school, founded in 1954 in a white Victorian townhouse, is one of the oldest among 80 Russian embassy schools worldwide, all teaching the state curriculum under foreign ministry oversight.

A portrait of Russian President Vladimir Putin hangs in the entrance hallway and several classrooms.

About 60 pupils aged seven to 18 attend full-time, five days a week over three terms, with another 40 in evening classes.

Moment three Russian soldiers surrender to robot

History lessons use a state-prescribed textbook by presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky, which describes the Ukraine war as part of Russia’s historical mission and portrays Ukraine as a Western puppet aiming to destabilise Russia.

The school has held fundraising events for Russia’s war effort in Ukraine.

Pupils have included children of suspected spies, such as the daughters of Colonel Maxim Elovik, expelled in May 2024 as an undeclared military intelligence officer. His daughters now live in Russia.

As part of the embassy, the school has diplomatic exemptions and is not overseen by the Department for Education or schools inspectorate.

The Russian embassy was contacted for comment.