Nestor Knows the Answer: How Russia’s Military-Historical Society Is Bringing AI Into History Education
A neural network drawing on 13 history textbooks and video games that recreate the past down to the last piece of armor – this is how Russian history education is finding new ways to reach schoolchildren.
The Russian Military-Historical Society (RMHS) and its partners are developing digital services to help people learn history. One of them, Nestor, an AI-powered history assistant, helps students and teachers explore the past interactively. It is part of a broader digital ecosystem designed to make history more accessible and easier to understand.
From Icebergs to Kutuzov
The Nestor digital assistant was developed by the National Research University Higher School of Economics (Moscow), the Agency for Strategic Initiatives and the RMHS. It draws on material from 13 history textbooks. School students can ask questions in everyday language and receive a detailed explanation instead of simply being directed to a textbook section. Vitaly Martynyuk, executive director of the RMHS, describes the approach with a touch of humor: “You can ask it anything, even how much an iceberg weighs. It will say it couldn’t find the answer, but offer to tell you about Kutuzov’s campaign, and somehow bring you right back to history.”
The app is designed for teachers, schoolchildren and anyone interested in Russian history. Users can navigate the school curriculum and explore any topic that catches their interest in greater depth. Crucially, access to high-quality learning materials does not depend on where someone lives. That can be especially valuable for children in remote areas and students with disabilities or other health-related needs.
“The Game Is More Accurate Than the Book”
The gaming side of Russian history education has developed alongside the Nestor project. In April 2024, the RMHS held its nationwide online game, “1418,” for the fourth time. The competition focused on events of World War II, known in Russia as the Great Patriotic War. More than 50,000 people from across the country took part in the history quiz.
Olga Zanko, chair of the central headquarters of Volunteers of Victory, explained why the format matters: “The game was developed using archival documents and veterans’ memoirs, with professional historians involved in the work. Every year, we see the number of participants continue to grow, which further confirms how appealing this format is.”
That same month, Cyberia Nova studio unveiled the historical video game Smuta. Studio founder Alexey Koptsev explained the team’s commitment to historical accuracy: “One of the most important elements of Smuta is its educational component. We have five historical consultants working with us, including people with academic degrees and historical reenactors.”
Project producer Andrey Belov added: “Since the novel was written, research into that historical period has advanced so much that the game has turned out to be more historically accurate than the book itself.”
The game still has shortcomings, many of which can be fixed, as military historian Klim Zhukov has pointed out. However, he also highlighted its clear strengths: the recreation of period clothing, buildings, weapons and armor. In his view, the game is an outstanding achievement: no other game in the world has reproduced the material objects of that era with such accuracy and attention to detail.
A Tool for Public Education
Video games have long since outgrown their role as mere entertainment. At last year’s forum, “Military History in Video Games: The Boundaries of Reality,” RMHS Executive Director Vitaly Martynyuk shared his perspective: “Computer games are becoming more popular every day. Children and adults are spending more and more time playing them, which makes us think about how to put games to good use, first and foremost for education and development. Gaming is popular among young people. It can become an excellent tool for public education.”
At the forum, Martynyuk also highlighted another Russian project developed with RMHS involvement back in 2014: Ilya Muromets (Rise of Flight: ILYA Muromets). The project is an add-on for the Rise of Flight simulator. It explores the history of the Russian transport aircraft and bomber Ilya Muromets, designed by Igor Sikorsky and an important part of Russia’s aviation history during World War I.
With Historians Keeping Watch
Digital services that immerse users in history have considerable potential. They can be tailored to the Russian curriculum and designed for Russian-speaking audiences. However, generative AI often produces answers that sound convincing but are incorrect. The most sensible approach, therefore, is not a fully autonomous “electronic historian,” but an assistant grounded in verified sources and overseen by teachers and historians.
Even the most impressive video game cannot replace a textbook. Every historical project needs rigorous historical review. The educational value of digital tools depends on how carefully developers handle the historical record.
