Russia Introduces Poems Glorifying the War in Schools on Temporarily Occupied Territories

The Russian authorities have initiated changes to the educational programs in schools on temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. According to information released by the National Resistance Center of Ukraine, schoolchildren are being required to study poems dedicated to the so-called “special military operation” (SVO), which aim to glorify Russian soldiers and discredit Ukraine.

These new materials, targeted at students in grades 1-4, have already been delivered to schools in the occupied areas. The National Resistance Center of Ukraine states that this initiative is part of a deliberate policy to alter the self-identification of Ukrainian children, a practice that could be considered a form of genocide under international law. Experts believe these actions further indicate that the objective of Russia’s military aggression is the destruction of Ukrainians as a nation.

The Center has also urged residents of the occupied territories to report any involvement in this policy through designated communication channels, assuring the anonymity of submissions.

It’s important to note that Russian occupation authorities have begun searching for children whose parents have not sent them to schools under their control, threatening to strip these parents of their parental rights.

A report by the international human rights organization Human Rights Watch highlights that in schools on occupied territories, Russia is imposing an educational program that includes history textbooks justifying the Russian invasion of Ukraine and portraying it as a “neo-Nazi state.” Additionally, the program severely restricts the teaching of the Ukrainian language.

Human Rights Watch emphasizes that these changes violate several international human rights standards, including the prohibition of war propaganda and the right of children to receive education in their native language.