Ukrainian Students Learn Drone Skills as War Shapes Future Careers
Ukrainian schoolchildren are mastering drone technology as part of a program preparing them for a war-torn future.
POLICY WIRE — Kyiv, Ukraine — In a school just 20 miles south of Kyiv, shattered windows have been replaced with wooden boards following a recent Russian drone strike. School officials say the temporary fix could become permanent due to the high cost of repairs, estimated at $500,000.
Inside, students are engaged in an after-school program that teaches science, technology, engineering, and mathematics through hands-on drone training. The initiative, called Tech Explorers, is led by the Ukrainian nonprofit Dignitas and targets children of military personnel, offering free lessons on building, flying, and repairing first-person-view (FPV) drones.
Drones have become a dominant force on the battlefield, responsible for 90% of casualties, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies. However, their use extends beyond combat, with growing applications in logistics, medical evacuations, and civilian sectors like agriculture and delivery services. Among the students, some practice on computer simulators, while others work on 3D printers to create drone parts. A group in the basement flies mini drones through obstacles, demonstrating their growing expertise.
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Eduard, a 14-year-old whose father serves in the Ukrainian infantry, has developed advanced drone piloting skills. He started using a computer during the war to attend online classes, which eventually led him to drone racing competitions in Kyiv. Now I don’t often play the simulator because it’s less interesting than flying real drones, he said. I built my own 10-inch drone recently.
Sasha, the program’s instructor, emphasizes the long-term benefits of the training. We don’t know how long this war will last, he said. It’s an opportunity for children to gain technical knowledge that could be useful in their country’s future. With a young son at home, Sasha initially hesitated about teaching children to fly drones, which are still primarily used by the military. But he ultimately believed that equipping students with these skills would help them prepare for life in a transformed Ukraine.
The country’s defense and technology sectors have grown significantly, with the IT industry now contributing over 3% of Ukraine’s GDP. This year, Ukraine’s defense production capacity is projected to reach $55 billion, or about a quarter of its total economic output. As schools adapt to the realities of war, many have integrated basic medical and pre-military training into their curriculums. However, Tech Explorers takes a different approach, focusing on nurturing individual passions in the new opportunities created by the conflict.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
