The Ministry of Education of Russia’s southern Rostov Region will purchase over 700 exact replicas of the Makarov pistol for local schools, according to a report by local publication 116.RU.
Government documents indicate that the procurement is expected to cost up to 27.6 million rubles (close to $305,000), with each replica priced at approximately 37,000 rubles ($410).
The replicas will be identical in weight to a real Makarov pistol, will fully replicate the gun’s mechanical functions, and are said to include a magazine with training cartridges.
The purchase is part of the “Everything for the Children” initiative, which falls under the “Youth and Children” national project. According to the report, the replicas will be used to teach students firearm handling and to familiarize them with the Makarov pistol’s design.
Authorities plan to equip 743 schools with these training models by the end of the year. As of January 2025, there were 1,130 general education schools across the region.
The Makarov pistol (PM, or “Pistolet Makarova,” lit. “Makarov’s pistol” ) is a Soviet semi-automatic handgun that has been in service since the 1950s. It was designed by Nikolay Makarov as the standard sidearm for the Soviet military and police forces, replacing the Tokarev TT-33.