Russia’s Teen Coders Are Building VR Worlds — Starting With Their Own History

Forget gaming — for some Russian students, virtual reality is a classroom, a canvas, and a time machine.

High schoolers across the country are diving into VR development, creating immersive apps that blend patriotism with next-gen storytelling. One standout? Timofey Bessonov, a recent graduate of the School of Creative Industries in Belgorod, who — along with his team — developed a VR experience centered around a historic battlefield near his hometown.

“Zvonnitsa at Prokhorovka Field” lets users walk through a virtual memorial complex, listen to the haunting chimes of church bells, inspect World War II-era armored vehicles, and stroll through the surrounding park — all from the comfort of a headset. The physical zvonnitsa (bell tower) stands on a site where one of the largest tank battles of WWII took place. Now, through VR, it's accessible to anyone, anywhere.

The app isn't just a tech demo — it's a digital monument. Users describe it as a rare fusion of heritage, hardware, and heart. And it's not alone.

Other immersive projects are gaining traction in Russian education, including “Russia: A Virtual Journey,” an 8-minute 360° tour that lets users explore Kamchatka, Lake Baikal, the Arctic, and other remote wonders via VR browsers. Designed for educators and travel enthusiasts alike, the experience blurs the line between geography and presence.

Bottom line: while some students are studying history, others are coding it into the metaverse. And in Russia, the next generation isn’t just consuming content — it’s building the future of how we see the past.