September 20, 2026

Drones in Schools Come to Light


Drones in Schools Come to Light
Zoooooom. Govorit Nemoskva

Independent outlet Govorit Nemoskva reports that a mother in Vladivostok is facing administrative charges for sharing a photo of her son's school's patch for the new academic year.

On August 31, the mom posted a photo of the new daily uniform patch on social media. She highlighted the in-flight drone taking pride of place in the patch’s design. Other locals chimed in to sympathize with its strangeness, some saying that they refused to buy the new patch, which replaced one that depicted a quill against the Russian flag.

Shortly after, the school's principal chimed in, accusing the mother of discrediting the school and asserting that the patch belongs to another, unrelated institution. The woman now faces administrative charges, which would likely result in a fine. Internet sleuths note that the patches appear in the school's social media posts.

The icon of the drone is indeed odd, even in the context of their widespread use in Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine — and the recruitment of students in their construction and piloting.

 

You Might Also Like

Drone Army Needs Pilots
  • August 19, 2026

Drone Army Needs Pilots

“Remote” classes take on a new meaning at one Russian university — as students learn to pilot unmanned drones.
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of our Books

Moscow and Muscovites
November 26, 2013

Moscow and Muscovites

Vladimir Gilyarovsky's classic portrait of the Russian capital is one of Russians’ most beloved books. Yet it has never before been translated into English. Until now! It is a spectactular verbal pastiche: conversation, from gutter gibberish to the drawing room; oratory, from illiterates to aristocrats; prose, from boilerplate to Tolstoy; poetry, from earthy humor to Pushkin. 

The Latchkey Murders
July 01, 2015

The Latchkey Murders

Senior Lieutenant Pavel Matyushkin is back on the case in this prequel to the popular mystery Murder at the Dacha, in which a serial killer is on the loose in Khrushchev’s Moscow...

Faith & Humor
December 01, 2011

Faith & Humor

A book that dares to explore the humanity of priests and pilgrims, saints and sinners, Faith & Humor has been both a runaway bestseller in Russia and the focus of heated controversy – as often happens when a thoughtful writer takes on sacred cows. The stories, aphorisms, anecdotes, dialogues and adventures in this volume comprise an encyclopedia of modern Russian Orthodoxy, and thereby of Russian life.

Life Stories
September 01, 2009

Life Stories

The Life Stories collection is a nice introduction to contemporary Russian fiction: many of the 19 authors featured here have won major Russian literary prizes and/or become bestsellers. These are life-affirming stories of love, family, hope, rebirth, mystery and imagination, masterfully translated by some of the best Russian-English translators working today. The selections reassert the power of Russian literature to affect readers of all cultures in profound and lasting ways. Best of all, 100% of the profits from the sale of this book are going to benefit Russian hospice—not-for-profit care for fellow human beings who are nearing the end of their own life stories.

About Us

Russian Life is the 31-year-old publication of an award-winning publishing house that also creates books, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955