Russian high schools are introducing a new class that will teach skills such as digging trenches, identifying various types of combat wounds, providing first aid, and classifying different weapons and hazardous substances.

The subject – called Fundamentals of Security and Homeland Defence – will replace the Fundamentals of Life Safety course that has been taught in schools for many years. This shift is part of the Ministry of Education’s latest effort to prepare students for national defence roles by providing them with practical military skills and knowledge. The curriculum will also cover the impacts of nuclear explosions and the use of biological weapons, while integrating ideological and military themes into the nation's educational system.

The class will be mandatory for all high school students.

This latest class is part of the widespread changes in the high school curriculum following Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and the Kremlin’s desire to weave ideological and military themes into the nation's educational system. This includes both propaganda messages and practical advice to ensure that students are well-prepared for military service. The ministry has tasked combat veterans with teaching the new subject, and instructors are currently undergoing specialised retraining at educational centres to effectively deliver the course content.

Educational institutions are already investing in the necessary resources to support this new curriculum. Schools are acquiring military wound simulators, dosimeters, models of mines and grenade launchers, as well as rifles and shelters. Additionally, there is a significant effort to integrate drone technology into the educational framework.

The changes go beyond the addition of military training. Core subjects are being restructured to emphasise state-sanctioned ideological content. This includes a new social studies course aimed at reinforcing state ideology and "traditional values," along with new questions on the Unified State Exam related to state ideology, further integrating these views into the academic curriculum.