Taken hostage and held at gunpoint: how children in Russian kindergartens and schools are being "prepared" for terror attacks

Russian schools and kindergartens held so-called "anti-terrorist drills" on 18-19 August, during which masked men forced children face down onto the floor and pointed weapons at them.

Source: Novaya Gazeta Europe, an independent Russian media outlet; Meduza, a Latvia-based Russian media outlet

Details: More than 100 kindergartens across the country have reported holding "anti-terrorist drills" on social media.

Children have been forced face down onto the floor and made to crouch down. In several cases, weapons were pointed at them and they were "taken hostage". Kindergarten-age children have also been made to barricade doors.

One kindergarten said on social media: "During the drills, several scenarios were simulated at once: an armed attack using flammable liquids, as well as children and a teacher from a kindergarten group being taken hostage."

Photos from various institutions show children lying face down on the floor next to their teachers while a masked man points a weapon at them. Some were taken outside and taught to hide in utility rooms or along walls.

There have been some traumatic incidents as well: four teachers were injured at a school in the village of Serkovo in Moscow Oblast when a stun grenade exploded. This was reported by 112, Mash and Baza – propagandist Telegram channels thought to be close to Russia's security services.

According to Russian media outlets, Russia's Deputy Education Minister Aleksandr Bugaev had announced the drills earlier but made no mention of children taking part, saying only that the drills would test how teachers, headteachers and security guards at schools and kindergartens would act in the event of a hostage-taking, arson or drone attack.

Bugaev also claimed this would be the first time the drills were being held in kindergartens, although in fact similar exercises took place in 2025.

Background: Russia is also systematically militarising deported Ukrainian children, preparing them for mobilisation into its armed forces. An OSCE expert commission recently established that Russia's system of indoctrination and forced conscription covers Ukrainians aged from six to 18.

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