Russia Puts Preschoolers in Hostage Drill Scenarios

Russian kindergartens put preschool children through simulated hostage scenarios on August 18, with posted images showing them lying face down or hiding as weapons were pointed at them during nationwide antiterrorism drills.

The exercises were reported by independent outlets Meduza and Novaya Gazeta Europe after kindergartens in several regions posted photo reports online. The images showed children taking part themselves; some hid in utility rooms, while others lay face down beside teachers as weapons were pointed at them and were portrayed as having been "taken hostage."

A stun grenade detonated during the same drills at a school in the village of Serkovo in the Moscow region, injuring four teachers. The incident was reported by Russian Telegram channels 112, Mash and Baza, which maintain ties to Russia’s security services.

Deputy Education Minister Alexander Bugaev had announced the exercises a week earlier. He said they would test how teachers, administrators and security guards respond to a taking hostage, an arson attempt or a drone attack on schools and kindergartens, but made no mention of children taking part.

Bugaev described the drills as the "first of their kind in kindergartens." Novaya Gazeta Europe noted that comparable exercises had already been carried out in the spring of 2025. The 2026 drills were set to run across Russian schools and kindergartens over two days, on August 18 and 19.

The drills come amid a wider drive to weave military life into Russian childhood, including in Ukrainian territories under temporary occupation. Ukrainian authorities had documented more than 19,500 children abducted by Russia by mid-2025, with only about 1,366 returned; many were placed in adoption schemes, military schools or psychiatric institutions.