Russian Forces Coerce Teachers to Teach Propaganda in Occupied Ukraine, Amnesty International Reports

In a recent report, Amnesty International revealed the challenges faced by Ukrainian teachers in Russian-occupied territories, who encounter threats and violence aimed at compelling them to teach a curriculum aligned with Russian state propaganda.

According to the organization, Ukrainian educators are faced with a difficult choice: either leave their homes or conform to pressures to teach a program that includes justifications for the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Agnès Callamard, Secretary General of Amnesty International, stated, “Ukrainian teachers in Russian-occupied territories are being threatened and abused to force them into a system that undermines their values.”

The report outlines how Russian authorities actively seek teachers to reopen schools with compliant staff. Those who refuse may face emotional manipulation, threats, and, in some cases, physical violence. Teachers have reported feeling the need to conceal their profession to avoid drawing attention from occupying forces. One teacher from the Mykolaiv region expressed concern about being discovered by Russian soldiers due to the subject they teach, while another shared an experience of having their home searched by the Russian Armed Forces.

Amnesty International has called for thorough investigations into the documented violations of human rights in these regions and accountability for those responsible. The organization’s findings are consistent with earlier reports of repression against Ukrainian educators and students in occupied territories.

Human Rights Watch has previously highlighted efforts by Russian authorities to implement a Russian education system, banning the Ukrainian language and curriculum while promoting anti-Ukrainian narratives. Consequently, many Ukrainian children find themselves in precarious situations, with parents worried for their safety amid the risk of being sent for “re-education” to Russia.