Russian Forces Raid Homes in Occupied Kherson, Forcing Children into Russian-Controlled Schools

On the eve of the new school year, Russian forces in temporarily occupied Kherson region conducted raids targeting families with school-age children, using intimidation tactics to force compliance with Russian-run educational programs.

Oleksandr Prokudin, Head of the Kherson Regional Military Administration, reported that these raids took place on September 6. Collaborators, accompanied by armed Russian soldiers, visited homes of families with children and threatened parents with the loss of parental rights if they refused to send their children to Russian-controlled schools. Additionally, they checked electronic devices to ensure there were no Ukrainian educational apps installed for distance learning.

The raids appear to be part of a broader effort by Russia to impose its own curriculum and propaganda on Ukrainian children in occupied regions. Prokudin highlighted that Russia’s goal is to indoctrinate Ukrainian youth, erasing their national identity by forcing them to adopt Russian perspectives. Children attending these schools are taught distorted historical narratives, portraying themselves as ‘Russian’ and the invasion as a ‘liberation.’

In previous instances, resistance from Ukrainian teachers and parents has hindered these efforts. For example, in October 2023, a school in Arkhangelska Sloboda briefly opened and was quickly closed due to a lack of collaborating teachers. This resistance continues, despite threats from the occupiers, including the risk of children being taken from their parents for not attending these schools.