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With other pupils, he got to try out the weapons as part of
basic military training - a feature of the school program that
was dropped in the final years of the Soviet Union but has been
reintroduced since the start of Russia's war in Ukraine.
In the southern city of Vladikavkaz this month teenage boys in
camouflage uniform took turns at firing weapons and practicing
first aid under the eye of instructors.
"It's easier to fire a pistol. And it's more difficult to take
aim with an assault rifle," said David, a lanky boy with black
hair and glasses.
He said the firearms practice would "make life easier" for him
in the future. Military service is compulsory for young men in
Russia, whose war in Ukraine is now well into its third year.
Sergei Menyailo, a retired vice-admiral who is now the leader of
Russia's North Ossetia region, referred to the conflict in
remarks to the youngsters, telling them the training would help
them "to fulfill your military duty within a team" if they had
to fight one day.
The education ministry issued a decree in late 2022 introducing
basic military training into the school curriculum as part of a
subject called "basics of life safety". Critics see it as part
of a growing militarization of Russian society since the start
of the war.
Boris Kantemirov, local head of a volunteer organization that
supports the armed forces, said the training delivered skills
that any soldier would need.
"Everybody must be able to save lives, handle weapons and be
physically fit," he told Reuters as gunshots from the training
range rang out in the background.
(Reporting by Reuters, writing by Mark Trevelyan; Editing by
Gareth Jones)
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