Irina Melekhina's mandatory military class in high school

Irina Melekhina's mandatory military class in high school

During Melekhina's childhood it was mandatory for all high school students to complete military training where they learned to use a rifle, march, and respond to commands. At this time they believed that Western countries would actually attack them and the military training was so that every person knew how to defend their home country.

c. 1980s

Kayla DiPaolo

Courtesy of Irina Melekhina

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