London Russian School Instructs Pupils in Battlefield Drone Operations
A school operated by the Russian foreign ministry in west London is reportedly teaching its pupils how to use battlefield drones, according to recent disclosures. The Russian Embassy School, situated in Notting Hill, serves the children of known and suspected spies alongside Soviet diplomats stationed in the United Kingdom.
Military Training Embedded in Curriculum
Lesson plans reveal that Year 10 pupils, aged 14 and 15, received an hour-long session in January focusing on the basics of technical preparation and communications for combat drones. During the previous term, children were also instructed in battlefield first aid and methods to protect themselves from chemical and biological weapons, as reported by The Times.
This teaching is delivered under a course titled Fundamentals of Security and Protection of the Motherland, known as OBZR, which was implemented across Russian schools at the start of the last academic year. Its introduction coincides with a marked increase in militarised and propagandistic teaching following Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Historical Propaganda and Physical Training
In history lessons, pupils are taught that Ukraine is a puppet of the West intent on destabilising Russia. Meanwhile, physical education has included instruction on assembling guns and throwing grenades, with practices using tennis balls as substitutes. Images from the school's 2024 sports day show children participating in competitive bandaging and crossbow shooting events.
Celebrations such as Victory Day see pupils dressing in Red Army uniforms, commemorating Russia's victory over the Nazis in 1945. The school's entrance hallway features a portrait of Vladimir Putin, reinforcing the state-aligned environment.
School Demographics and Legal Status
Approximately 100 pupils attend the school, with about 60 aged between seven and 18 attending full-time classes over three terms annually. The remaining 40 or so attend evening sessions. Around three-quarters of these students have parents working at the Russian embassy or trade mission, while the rest are children of Russians living in Britain or employees of the Belarus embassy.
Pupils, some holding British citizenship or dual nationality, must demonstrate proficiency in the Russian language. Non-diplomatic parents are required to pay fees of less than £1,000 per year. The school is located just half a mile from the Russian embassy in a Victorian townhouse.
Regulatory Exemptions and Global Context
The institution does not fall under the jurisdiction of the Department for Education or the schools inspectorate due to diplomatic exemptions as a branch of the Russian embassy. Teachers are mandated to follow the Russian state curriculum, which includes propagandised history lessons portraying the war in Ukraine as part of Russia's historical mission.
Globally, there are around 80 other Russian embassy schools, though one in Warsaw was shut down by the Polish government in 2023, a move denounced by the Kremlin as an invasion. The Daily Mail has contacted the Russian Embassy for comment, but no response has been provided regarding The Times' report.
