"Teacher at the 'Warrior' facility instructs adolescents in firearms usage"
Child Sniper Training Program Launched in Occupied Luhansk
A new sniper training program for children has been introduced at the "Warrior" military-patriotic education center in occupied Luhansk, in collaboration with the Russian Combat Sniping Federation. This initiative, which began in 2025, aims to teach boys and girls precision long-range shooting skills as part of a broader military-patriotic curriculum.
During the summer sessions, young recruits practice sniper marksmanship under the guidance of instructors, about 75% of whom are combat veterans with experience in the war in Ukraine. The program is designed to prepare these youths for future combat roles as snipers.
The training program is part of a larger strategy to militarize and indoctrinate children under Russian occupation, raising serious concerns about the future use of these children as combatants. It is distinct from adult or professional sniper training programs, as it is explicitly aimed at minors in occupied Ukrainian territories under Russian control.
The "Warrior" center's child sniper training program is integrated into its broader military-patriotic education efforts. Guards Major Yaroslav Yakubov, Hero of Russia, Vice-President of the Russian Federation of Army Tactical Shooting, and President of the Russian Federation of Combat Shooting, has announced that recruits will be trained on Ministry of Defense polygons and in patriotic shooting camps.
The "Voyn" center also supports snipers on the frontlines of the SVO through a joint initiative with the Russian Federation of Combat Shooting and the Ministry of Defense. In earlier instances, modern rifles and multi-caliber sniper rifles have been sent to the front to aid these snipers.
The new sniping course, developed in collaboration with the Russian Combat Sniping Federation, emphasizes the importance of mathematical skills, particularly algebra and geometry, for a good sniper. The course also emphasizes the values of accuracy, calmness, composure, and good eyesight.
The construction of a multifunctional sports shooting center "Vostok" is ongoing in Primorye, spanning 70 hectares and intended for sniper training, military-patriotic, and sports military events. Recruit Dmitriy Khabarov expresses his enthusiasm for sniper training, reflecting the program's popularity among the youth.
The Russian Federation of Combat Shooting is involved in the development of the new sniping course and the new sniper program in educational curricula. In July, 27 mentors from various regions completed the training program at the Tyumen branch, paving the way for the expansion of this training to more young recruits.
Despite the ongoing conflict and the focus on military-patriotic education, the "Warrior" center in occupied Luhansk has unveiled a sports-analysis component in their child sniper training program. The new sniping course, developed by the Russian Combat Sniping Federation, incorporates elements of sports, emphasizing the importance of good eyesight, which is a key requirement in both sports and sniping.
