In Russia, patriotic education has become part of the school system and from an early age children study Russian history while training at patriotic military clubs.

In the Caucasus region, between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea in Southwest Russia, the cult of arms and military traditions is strong and taught to children at cadet schools. Along with standard scholar cursus, disciplines such as spiritual teachings, field trainings, parachute jumping and mastering arms are part of the students classes. On a regular basis cadets go through intensive training programs at a Military base located near the city of Stavropol and perform their “soldier duty” just as adults would.

Many of these children dream of a military career. One of the cadets, Dmitry Pavlov, 17, says “I enjoy going to the field trips with all the gear, sit by the fire at night and sing to a guitar, wear military uniform, work with younger cadets. Communication with the officers is also very valuable for me. I would not learn at a normal school everything that I have learnt at the cadet’s school”. – Discover more of Eduard’s work here

– NB: Eduard was selected as finalist of the 2019 Visual Storytelling Contest judged by Ed Kashi.