Children undergo military training at the General Yermolov Cadet School just outside the city of Stavropol in southern Russia in a state-run institution that teaches military and patriotic classes in addition to an academic syllabus. Their studies concentrate on modern military science – from handling firearms and disarming landmines to performing Morse Code and even parachuting.

Students take part in field trips, during which they spend time at a base and undergo physical drills and weapons training. The outings are seen as a treat for students, and those with bad grades are not allowed to go. The school is named after the Russian imperial general Alexei Yermolov and many of its students are from military backgrounds. In this gallery, see how the military school moulds Russian children into soldiers.

Russia children army cadets school
Fifth-grade students get ready for a military exercise at the General Yermolov Cadet School in Stavropol Eduard Korniyenko/Reuters
Russia children army cadets school
A tenth-grader teaches fifth grade students how to throw a dummy grenade Eduard Korniyenko/Reuters
Russia children army cadets school
A fifth-grade student of the General Yermolov Cadet School takes part in his first military tactical exercise Eduard Korniyenko/Reuters
Russia children army cadets school
Children wear gas masks during their first military tactical field exercise Eduard Korniyenko/Reuters
Russia children army cadets school
An instructor guides a student from the General Yermolov Cadet School as she aims a pistol Eduard Korniyenko/Reuters
Russia children army cadets school
A boy learns how to handle a weapon during a military exercise in a forest Eduard Korniyenko/Reuters
Russia children army cadets school
Cadets take part in a field exercise outside the south Russian city of Stavropol Eduard Korniyenko/Reuters
Russia children army cadets school
A boy does physical exercises during military training at a boot camp of the Russian Knights military patriotic club in the village of Sengileyevskoye in the Stavropol region Eduard Korniyenko/Reuters
Russia children army cadets school
Children get their meals during a military training exercise Eduard Korniyenko/Reuters
Russia children army cadets school
Students from the General Yermolov Cadet School queue for their meals Eduard Korniyenko/Reuters
Russia children army cadets school
Students of the General Yermolov Cadet School gather next to a cross as they attend a training outside the southern city of Stavropol Eduard Korniyenko/Reuters
Russia children army cadets school
Children squabble over replica weapons at the military school Eduard Korniyenko/Reuters
boy on bunk
A boy lies on his bunk at the General Yermolov Cadet School Eduard Korniyenko / Reuters
classroom
A lecturer shows students a picture of General Mikhail Skobolev, a highly decorated and revered strategist from the 19th century, during a military history lesson at the General Yermolov Cadet School Eduard Korniyenko / Reuters
boy choose gun
A child selects an automatic weapon at the General Yermolov Cadet School Eduard Korniyenko / Reuters
boy two guns
A boy holds two rifles at the General Yermolov Cadet School during a two-day field exercise near the village of Sengileyevskoye, just outside the south Russian city of Stavropol Eduard Korniyenko / Reuters
exercise
Students from the General Yermolov Cadet School perform fitness exercises Eduard Korniyenko / Reuters
Russia children army cadets school
Fifth-grade students of the General Yermolov Cadet School prepare for their first military tactical exercise Eduard Korniyenko/Reuters
Russia children army cadets school
A student from the General Yermolov Cadet School wearing a mask looks on during a field exercise outside the south Russian city of Stavropol Eduard Korniyenko/Reuters
Russia children army cadets school
Students from the General Yermolov Cadet School aim an automatic rifle Eduard Korniyenko/Reuters
Russia children army cadets school
A first-year student from the General Yermolov Cadet School holds his epaulettes during his oath-taking ceremony Eduard Korniyenko/Reuters
Russia children army cadets school
A cadets takes part in a landmine clearing competition at the General Yermolov Cadet School in Stavropol Eduard Korniyenko/Reuters

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