Nursery children held at gunpoint by balaclava-clad ‘terrorists’ & barricaded in classrooms in chilling Russian drills

TERRIFIED nursery school children in Russia have been held at gunpoint and forced to sit through replica hostage situations in anti-terror drills. Shocking pictures show cowering students hiding under tables with their heads in their hands as balaclava-clad “terrorists” aim pistols at them. Shocking pictures show cowering students hiding under tables with their heads in their hands as balaclava-clad ‘terrorists’ aim pistols at them Credit: Collect Children barricade themselves behind doors as Russian adults tried to burst into classrooms Credit: Collect The reenactments, which Vladimir Putin‘s ministry of education made mandatory this year, took place on Tuesday and Wednesday. Children were made to live through armed hostage-taking reenactments to test their reactions and ability to stay safe. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! Kids were even taken hostage by the armed actors at least one school in Russia. Some of the planned attacks involved flammable liquids and drone strikes, according to Russian state media. Students were told to hide in cupboards as the sound of bullets and drones sounded off around them Credit: Collect The reenactments, which Vladimir Putin’s ministry of education made mandatory this year, took place on Tuesday and Wednesday Credit: AFP Four teachers were injured during a drill when a stun grenade was thrown through the window of the school and detonated in the village of Serkovo, Moscow. Serious eye injuries and abrasions were reported with three of the four being taken to hospital, according to Russian Telegram channels with links to the security services. The Moscow regional prosecutor’s office vowed to launch an investigation. Across Russia, young children were told to barricade themselves behind classroom doors, hide away in utility rooms or just lay down on the floor. Most read in The Sun More than 100 kindergartens throughout the country posted online about the exercises. Announcing the mandatory drills earlier this month, Alexander Bugaev, first deputy education minister, said: “The practical readiness of teachers, heads of educational institutions and security personnel will be tested on August 18-19, during the nationwide drill. “This year, nurseries will participate for the first time.” One school announced in a statement after the drills: “Several scenarios were modelled during the exercise. “These included an armed attack involving the use of flammable liquids, as well as the taking hostage of children and a teacher from one of the nursery groups.” One school in south-central Russia, simulated dousing the main entrance to the school and a security guard in a flammable liquid before setting them on fire, local media said. A separate scenario saw a drone smash into the school building. This isn’t the first time nursery school children have been dragged into Putin’s war. Last October, Russian nurseries held a “safety culture” lesson to mark Civil Defence Day. It focused on protecting kids and teachers from missile and drone threats posed by Ukraine. Children how to evacuate safely through corridors and shelters, and were quizzed on how to distinguish between fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and smaller quadcopters. Putin also issued a directive aimed at expanding drone piloting skills among younger children in 2025. Educational institutions across Russia have now reportedly spent at least £160m on drones and related wartime equipment since the start of Russia’s invasion in February 2022, according to Novaya Gazeta. It comes during a time of heightened fears across Russia with the number of student-related incidents surging. Despite gun attacks on schools being rare in Russia, half of all violent weapons assaults in Russian schools since 2000 took place in the past five years. Comment now