Russian President Vladimir Putin inaugurated a college for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) specialists at the Rudnevo industrial park in Moscow, state news agency TASS reported on October 2.

The Rudnevo educational centre aims to train approximately 3,000 students annually and comes as Russia is increasingly relying on drone technologies in its war with Ukraine.

The new educational facility, designed to train experts in the production of unmanned aerial systems, aligns with Russia's recent push to bolster its drone manufacturing capabilities, the Russian report says.

Putin was joined at the opening ceremony by First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, and Education Minister Sergei Kravtsov.

The 9,100-square metre building houses 21 high-tech workshops and laboratories, reflecting a new concept for developing vocational education in the capital.

Students will have the opportunity to hone their skills in mechanical engineering, electronics, production automation, and UAV manufacturing.

The curriculum covers all stages of drone creation, from body construction to circuit board installation and programming.

Last year, Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council, stressed the need to rapidly establish mass production of drones, which have been in high demand since the beginning of what Moscow calls its "special military operation" in Ukraine.

Drone wars between Russia and Ukraine are hotting up, with Kyiv previously announcing it was investing more than $7bn in its domestic arms industry this year alone.

The funds have provided "enormous support" to Ukraine’s military effort against Russia in the ongoing war, in filling gaps left by the shortfall in international technical assistance.

The initiative was launched last year at a conference hosted by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who promised to turn Ukraine into a “military production hub.” Since then, several Western partners have signed off on joint venture agreements and begun to build factories in Ukraine, led by Germany’s Rheinmetall.