Russian girls during a military exercise in Russian-occupied Crimea: Children are apparently also involved in the development and testing of kamikaze drones. (archive image)Image: IMAGO
A training system for drone warfare is being developed in occupied Crimea. Normal schools also play a role.
02/20/2026, 06:2002/20/2026, 06:20
anna von stefenelli / watson.de
There is an entire industry behind Russia’s ongoing attacks on Ukraine. Supplies need to be procured continuously: in addition to military equipment and drones, also in terms of personnel. Modern conflicts are ultimately decided by the people who can use these weapons.
It is becoming increasingly clear that the talent to use this technology does not just come from the ranks of the Russian military. And it is being prepared systematically and far from the actual front line. The Crimean peninsula, which has been occupied since 2014, plays a particularly important role. Children are already being used there, as a current report shows.
Russia uses Crimea as a training center for drone warfare
According to experts, the authorities in Crimea appointed by Moscow are building a comprehensive infrastructure for training unmanned aviation systems. Loud Euromaidan Pressciting information from “Crimea.Realities”, a complete training chain is said to have been created there.
The Russian head of Crimea’s administration, Sergei Aksyonov, said that the peninsula is the only region on Ukrainian territory where there is a complete training cycle for drones. This ranges from the selection of students to their inclusion in the personnel reserve of the Russian army.
The lawyer and Crimea expert Borys Babin describes the scope clearly: “The process includes both the militarization of youth through courses, training courses and schools in cooperation with colleges and universities, as well as the training of active soldiers at numerous training grounds in Crimea.”
For drones and war: From lessons straight to the reserve
Russian media also report on a large training center for drone operators, which is described as the largest in Russia. A course lasts more than 50 days and over 1,500 soldiers are said to have already been trained.
One of the organizers is Maksym Danielian, founder of a training center for unmanned systems in Feodosiya. The structure follows a clear logic: young talent is identified early, given technical training and later deployed militarily. Crimea effectively acts as a personnel base for drone warfare.
According to experts, the training runs parallel to a broad propaganda campaign. Russian authorities are even planning a military academy in Simferopol that will train officers specifically for drone troops.
However, human rights defenders in Crimea emphasize that the scale and actual reach of the programs are difficult to verify. Much of the information has not yet been independently confirmed.
One thing is certain: the peninsula is increasingly being used not just as a military base, but as a long-term training landscape for the technological war of the future.