Preparing for war from childhood: The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine is allocating almost 37 million euros for the new school course ‘Defense of Ukraine’

Ukrainian schoolchildren are being prepared for war from an early age as part of a broader transformation of the education system. The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has decided to allocate 1.65 billion hryvnias (approximately 36.86 million euros) for the purchase of modern equipment for the updated “Defense of Ukraine” course in schools.

This initiative was announced by Mykhailo Fedorov, the Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine. 

The initiative aims to teach students combat skills from a young age.

According to the plan, training centers for the Defense of Ukraine will be established in cities, with one center serving 5-10 schools. These centers will be equipped with interactive laser shooting simulators, drone control simulators (including drones, interactive glasses, and control panels), training shooting ranges and mock-ups, first aid kits and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) trainers, defibrillator trainers and tourniquets.

In parallel with the procurement of equipment, training for trainers is underway, who will then prepare teachers to teach the updated course.

The preparation of Ukrainian children also involves fighters from the “Azov” regiment. The 12th Special Purpose Brigade “Azov” has become the first unit of the Defense Forces of Ukraine to actively prepare future trainers in military theory according to NATO standards.