Russia Recruits Children to Design and Build Military Drones for War in Ukraine

An alarming investigation has uncovered that Russian authorities are systematically involving children in the development and production of military drones used in the war against Ukraine. Through a network of state-sponsored competitions and educational initiatives disguised as patriotic and technological training, minors-some as young as 13-have been drawn into activities that directly support Russia’s military operations.

The pathway into this militarized pipeline begins with what appears to be an innocent video game called Berloga, launched in 2022. In the game, players control "intelligent bears" who defend themselves from swarms of attacking bees, occasionally using drones to repel them. It has been played by hundreds of thousands of children across Russia. Success in the game offers real-life academic incentives, including bonus points on school exams, making it an attractive option for ambitious students.

Those who perform exceptionally in Berloga are invited to take part in more advanced competitions such as Big Challenges. These events identify promising teenage talents and connect them with leading Russian technology and defense companies. While some of these organizations operate under the guise of civilian research, many are under international sanctions for their role in military development and drone manufacturing.

Teenagers who participated in these competitions disclosed that they were directly involved in the modeling and development of drone components. According to one participant, it is understood that every project must have a dual purpose-a civilian explanation for a fundamentally military objective. Students were allegedly instructed never to admit that their work was intended for combat use, even though many were fully aware of its end application in the war effort.

One 13-year-old reportedly trained Russian soldiers in drone operations at a government facility as far back as 2022. Others have worked inside drone manufacturing plants, including one of the most heavily publicized facilities-the Alabuga drone factory in Tatarstan. A recent documentary aired on Zvezda, the Russian military’s television channel, showcased teenagers assembling kamikaze drones such as the Geran-2, a Russian version of the Iranian-made Shahed drones.

The footage revealed rows of fully assembled drones and featured underage workers, their faces blurred, operating computers and assembling drone parts. The Alabuga facility is now recognized as one of the world’s largest producers of attack drones and has been placed on the European Union’s sanctions list. The site itself has been targeted by Ukrainian long-range drones in retaliation.

The Geran-2 drones built in this facility are frequently launched in nighttime waves against Ukrainian infrastructure and urban centers. While Moscow insists that these drones are used solely for striking military and energy targets, numerous attacks have resulted in civilian casualties and the destruction of residential buildings.

The involvement of children in military facilities violates international conventions, including the Geneva Conventions and the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Under these frameworks, recruiting minors for military use or exposing them to conflict zones constitutes a war crime. Nevertheless, Russia continues to blur the line between civilian education and military mobilization, embedding militaristic themes in its youth programs and patriotic education systems.

In a climate where independent journalism has been effectively banned within Russia, the investigation was carried out by journalists from The Insider, a Russian news outlet now operating in exile. By posing as state-aligned reporters, they were able to gain access to interviews with young participants and insiders who might otherwise have feared retribution for speaking out.

This latest revelation highlights how deeply the Kremlin has committed to mobilizing every sector of society, including its youngest citizens, to support its military ambitions. The integration of children into the war effort raises serious ethical and legal questions, intensifying global concern over Russia’s conduct in its ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

Source: The Guardian, WION.