Militarization of Education in Occupied Ukraine: A Growing Concern

The Russian occupation administration is actively implementing the militarization of education in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. As part of this campaign, nearly 200 schools have already been renamed after the so-called "heroes of the Russian Federation" - Russian military personnel who participated in the war against Ukraine.

According to the Center for National Resistance, in this way, the occupiers are trying to change the worldview of the younger generation. Under the guise of "patriotic education," children are forced to study biographies of Russian invaders, attend "lessons of courage" with the participation of Russian military personnel, and learn narratives that justify the occupation.

In addition, the TOT has a program to integrate "veterans of the Russian Federation" into the educational process. Former Russian military personnel undergo so-called "retraining" and become teachers of military and patriotic disciplines, effectively preparing students for service in the occupation army.

Schools in the temporarily occupied territories are increasingly turning into centers of Russian propaganda, where children are forced to perceive the occupiers as "liberators" from an early age and eradicate any Ukrainian self-identification.

The Center of National Resistance emphasizes that the militarization of education in the TOT is another crime of the Russian Federation against Ukraine. The occupiers will be held accountable to international law and the Ukrainian people.

Recently, in the occupied Kerch State Maritime Technical University, students were forced to register for the so-called military service in order to receive a scholarship.

Also in the temporarily occupied Crimea, Russians organized another propaganda performance for young people. Representatives of the Storm assault unit of the 810th Marine Brigade of the Russian Federation, a unit staffed not only by mobilized soldiers but also by former prisoners, including those convicted of serious crimes, spoke to the students.

In addition, the Crimean branch of the Russian State University of Justice ordered the girls to make valentines for the Russian military. Moreover, the students are offered to leave their contacts on the cards - under the pretext that "real heroes" are better than local Crimeans, who mostly have a negative attitude towards the occupation authorities.

Андрій Колісніченко