RUSSIAN SCHOOLCHILDREN TO RECEIVE MILITARY TRAINING

Schoolchildren undergoing military training
Source: English Russia

According to The BBC, "Schoolchildren in Russia will soon be taught a variety of military skills such as maintaining firearms as part of a new drive by the country's defence ministry." The training will be provided by an organisation that was popular during the Soviet Union years known as Yunarmiya - also known as Young Army - and is aimed at youngsters between the ages of 14 and 18, although children as young as 10 could be allowed to join the Young Army.

Mixed reactions have greeted the announcement of this military training progamme, with some believing such a programme to be inappropriate for children, and others believing that such a training scheme would make Russian children more patriotic and better citizens.