The Ministry of Defense announced the introduction of a cycle of training for national resistance, starting at the age of 14
After the start of a full-scale war, the Ukrainian security system is undergoing a profound transformation, and one of the key directions of this reform has become a fundamental restructuring of the population’s defense preparation. Special emphasis is now placed on young people — schoolchildren, students, reservists, everyone who, even in peacetime, must be ready to act in critical conditions. The formal and ineffective system of basic military training, which existed in educational institutions for decades, is giving way to a new approach. In Ukraine, as part of the reform of the military training of youth and students, they plan to introduce a cycle of training for national resistance, starting from the age of 14. About this reported Acting Ihor Hort, head of the National Resistance Policy Department of the Ministry of Defense.
As the executor Ihor Hort explained, the change in approach involves not only the updating of the educational subject, but the creation of a complete cycle of education of citizens ready to resist armed aggression. He noted that the Ministry of Defense is moving away from the traditional scheme of basic combined military training. It will no longer be just an academic discipline, instead a full-fledged cycle of preparing citizens for national resistance will be implemented, starting from school age. It is a new concept, which is aimed at reaching the widest possible range of citizens — from schoolchildren to adults.
Ihor Hort emphasized that this cycle will start from the age of 14. It is from this moment that schoolchildren will participate in the military-patriotic games “Falcon” and “Jura”, as well as study the updated subject “Defense of Ukraine”, which is currently taught in schools and vocational education institutions. At the same time, basic general military training will be completely canceled in higher educational institutions. Instead, a new academic discipline is being introduced – “Fundamentals of National Resistance”. It is not about a military specialty and not about training for a specific type of troops. The new subject is designed to form motivation and readiness to protect the state.
According to a representative of the Ministry of Defense, the subject “Fundamentals of National Resistance” will be compulsory for all students, both boys and girls. If the student does not want to take this course, he will be expelled from the educational institution. The new model fundamentally differs from the previous one in that it is not formal, it involves a mandatory practical component. As part of the training, young people and students will undergo training in tactical and fire training, learn how to handle weapons. It will not be an imitation or preparation on paper, real skills will be acquired that should be mastered by everyone.
Ihor Hort also emphasized that after completing the training, all citizens will undergo basic military service. This service will become an integral part of the overall preparation for the resistance. This means that training in the education system is only the first stage, which must be followed by the real consolidation of knowledge and skills in military units.
Hort separately noted that specialized training centers are already being created for various categories of citizens — from reservists to students and volunteers. He cited the example of the “18-60+” project, which involves the training of all those who want to, regardless of age. In such centers, everyone will be able to undergo training, hold a weapon in their hands, check their own level of training and understand what they are capable of in real conditions.
According to Igor Hort, the goal of this initiative is not to create a formal reporting system, but to build a massive, stable and effective defense structure, based on a trained citizen who is aware of his role in the general system of national resistance. The new approach has already begun to be implemented and will become a mandatory element of the Ukrainian educational, military and social model in the future.
