Kremlin Rewrites History: Russia Indoctrinates Ukrainians with New Textbooks

Russia is intensifying its Russification policy in occupied Ukrainian regions through a new history curriculum designed to indoctrinate young Ukrainians. Textbooks, authored by Vladimir Medinsky, an advisor to President Vladimir Putin and former Russian culture minister, will be introduced at the start of the school year in partially occupied oblasts of Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia.

Medinsky, who was tasked by Putin with leading negotiations with Ukraine after the 2022 invasion, is now overseeing the large-scale indoctrination of Ukrainian youth in these territories. Experts describe the methods as a blend of practices used during the Soviet era and those of Nazi Germany.

The initiative is part of a long-standing effort by Russia to impose its historical narrative and cultural influence on Ukrainian populations. The new curriculum aims to reshape the understanding of history among students in the occupied regions, aligning it with the Kremlin's perspective.

This move is seen as a critical component of Russia's strategy to consolidate control over the occupied territories and sever Ukraine's national identity. The use of tailored history textbooks is a direct method to influence future generations and ensure loyalty to Moscow.

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They combine practices of the Soviet Union with practices of Nazi Germany.