The PARTISAN course participants train with models of the Kalashnikov assault rifle in the sport military-patriotic club REZERV in St. Petersburg, Russia on November 21, 2016. (Photo by Alexander Aksakov/The Washington Post)





Denis Gariev (left), the head of PARTISAN courses, shows a machine gun firing techniques to participants of the courses in the sports military-patriotic club REZERV in St. Petersburg, Russia on November 21, 2016. (Photo by Alexander Aksakov/The Washington Post)





Participants of the PARTISAN courses prepare for the shooting techniques classes in the sports military-patriotic club REZERV in St. Petersburg, Russia on November 21, 2016. (Photo by Alexander Aksakov/The Washington Post)





Participants of the PARTISAN courses train using Makarov pistols in the sports military-patriotic club REZERV in St. Petersburg, Russia on November 21, 2016. (Photo by Alexander Aksakov/The Washington Post)





Participants of PARTISAN courses train covering behind low objects during tactical field trainings in Olgino, St. Petersburg, Russia on November 22, 2016. (Photo by Alexander Aksakov/The Washington Post)





Participants of PARTISAN courses train tactical medicine in St. Petersburg, Russia on November 22, 2016. (Photo by Alexander Aksakov/The Washington Post)





Participants of PARTISAN courses train tactical medicine in St. Petersburg, Russia on November 22, 2016. (Photo by Alexander Aksakov/The Washington Post)





Sergey, one of the participants of PARTISAN courses, poses for a portrait in an abandoned building in Olgino, St. Petersburg, Russia on November 23, 2016. Sergey came to St. Petersburg from the city of Cheliabinsk to attend an intensive seven-day program. Sergey is a businessman, a traveller and a blogger. His another passion are “men's hobbies”, that's why he participated in the paramilitary courses. (Photo by Alexander Aksakov/The Washington Post)





Participants of PARTISAN courses train tactical coordination in groups in Olgino, St. Petersburg, Russia on November 26, 2016. (Photo by Alexander Aksakov/The Washington Post)





Participants of the course train train methods of work with the Makarov pistol in sports military-patriotic club REZERV in St. Petersburg, Russia on November 26, 2016. (Photo by Alexander Aksakov/The Washington Post)





Participants of the course rest during trainings on methods of work with the Makarov pistol in sports military-patriotic club REZERV in St. Petersburg, Russia on November 26, 2016. (Photo by Alexander Aksakov/The Washington Post)





Denis, one of the participants of the course, abseils in Olgino, St. Petersburg, Russia on November 27, 2016. (Photo by Alexander Aksakov/The Washington Post)