Preparations for the new school year are actively underway in the temporarily occupied territory of the Luhansk region. Russians give children stationery, backpacks, develop thematic diaries, introduce changes in the pedagogical process and design educational institutions in a propaganda style
The TRYBUN article found out how these processes take place, what will be new for schoolchildren and how the occupiers use educational institutions for propaganda
What school supplies are distributed to children in the occupation
The all-Russian political party "United Russia" in the occupied Luhansk region organized the action "Get the child ready for school". Its goal is to provide children in need with backpacks and stationery.
The handing over of school supplies to children in Bryanka, Lysychansk and other settlements did not go without Russian attributes - the flags of the Russian Federation and "United Russia".
In addition, some issued backpacks have a specific militarized design. They depict the war and the "Z" symbol, which the occupiers use during the so-called "SVO" to denote "For Victory".
The charity campaign is also taking place in Luhansk. It involves occupation authorities, as well as the "Department of Public Administration of the Luhansk State University named after V. Dalya, the Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia "Artemovsky" and the Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation "Kamenobrodsky" and the team of the Republican Center of Artistic and Aesthetic Creativity.
The occupiers also issued school kits to "students of Bryanka Gymnasium, where cadet classes work and Bryanka educational and training complex № 10." The introduction of cadet classes by the occupiers is one of the steps in the militarization of youth. The children who study there wear Russian uniforms.
This year, the occupation authorities of Luhansk region announced the release of unique "patriotic" diaries. More than 100,000 copies will be distributed throughout the region. And from September 1,schoolchildren must use them.
The Russians say that the new diaries were “developed jointly with historians in two versions – for primary and high school students. It will allow children to immerse themselves in the history of their native land, learn more about ourcountrymen and the world around them. These diaries will contain all the most useful things: the history of Luhansk region, interesting facts about the republic and state symbols, important events that took place in the vastness of our native land."
What information is printed on the propaganda pages of the diary?
- symbols and texts of the anthems of the Russian Federation and the occupied Luhanshchyna;
- about Russian projects and all-Russian socio-state movements of children and youth, QR code to join them;
- about Russian platforms and organizations;
- a map of the occupied Luhanshchyna;
- historical information about the occupied Luhansk region.
What children in the occupation will study in the new school year
Schools in the occupied Luhansk region are a center of Russian propaganda. In the lessons, children continue to be propagated the war in order to form a clear awareness that Ukraine is the enemy, and Russia is about salvation, protection and liberation.
So, for example, from September 1, 2024, schoolchildren will be told more about the heroes of Russia and the participants of the so-called "SVO". There is already a prepared list of "Our heroes", which consists of 3 sections: "pre-revolutionary period", "Soviet period" and "modern Russia".
The occupation resource notes that the section "modern Russia" will be about Russian military servant, including: "Arsen Pavlov (Motorola), Olga Kachura and Vladimir Zhoga. Also in the list is Daria Duhina, the daughter of the philosopher and "father of the Russian piece" Aleksander Duhin."
In the new school year, the teaching of the history of the occupied Luhansk region "from ancient times to the present day" will continue.
Children will study the paragraphs: "Luhansk region as part of the Ukrainian SSR (1921-1941), "Voroshilovhrad region during the Great Patriotic War (1941-1945), "Development of Luhansk region in 1945-1991", "Luhansk region as a part of Ukraine (1991-2014), "Luhansk People's Republic - a new stage in the development of the region", "State coup in Ukraine (November 2013 - February 2014), "Social and political situation in Luhansk region in the spring of 2014" etc.
One of the priority directions of the enemy in working with schoolchildren is their education. Therefore, this year, the Russian authorities are implementing the "Luhansk character" program in all schools in the occupied Luhansk region.
The so-called "Minister of Education" says that "it (the program) is aimed at developing the socially active position of young people, following the example of Luhansk scholars, patriots, athletes and workers who glorified our region."
How educational institutions will look in a new way in the occupation
Starting from the new school year, all schools, kindergartens, technical schools and universities in the occupied Luhansk region must have thematic zones with Russian symbols, information about youth movements, etc. The presence of the flag of the Russian Federation in institutions is mandatory.
The enemy resource writes that such changes are connected with Putin's signing of the law, "according to which all educational institutions will hang the flag of Russia." Also, the goal of this is "to create a creative space for the development of schoolchildren."
The occupiers showed how the school space in Stanytsia Luhanska will look now.
Information stands with propaganda symbols, Russian youth movements, and educational platforms are hung around the school. A separate stand is dedicated to the symbols and anthem of Russia. Logos of the largest projects and movements are also depicted on the walls of the institution.
The war was also gave published. The educational institution created an honor board for the "heroes" of the so-called "SVO" and installed several "Heroes" desks.
There are no fewer similar stands and hostile symbols at the Kindrashivska school. Thematic areas, murals, and banners devoted to the Russian language, scientists, and history are added. Also, the educational institution has patriotic corners, for example, "Immortal regiment", "We remember, we are proud." 1941-1945" and "Memory brings us back to Afhanistan".
Therefore, Russian propaganda in the occupied territories is only gaining momentum. The enemy is developing new methods of influence, in particular on schoolchildren. Changes in the educational process are being introduced to completely russify children, orienting them exclusively to the Russian Federation.
