Russia uses education and religion to militarize children in temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine

Starting September 1, 2026, schools in the temporarily occupied territories will introduce a new subject called “Spiritual and Moral Culture of Russia.” This subject will be taught to students in grades 5-7, focusing on instilling “traditional Russian spiritual and moral values” through examples of statesmen, military personnel, and participants in the war against Ukraine, as reported by Armyfm.

Additionally, occupation media are highlighting various events involving the Russian Orthodox Church and Kremlin-founded youth organizations, such as the “Molodaya Gvardiya,” “Dvizhenie Pervykh,” and “Narodnaya Druzhina.” Young people are participating in joint prayers, engaging in “patriotic” discussions with priests, assisting churches, and more. These initiatives merge religious rhetoric with military context, shaping children's perception of war as a “spiritual duty.”

“This represents a coordinated effort by the occupation administration, the education system, and church organizations. The Russian Federation is establishing a comprehensive system of ideological influence aimed at Russification, militarization, and the integration of children from the temporarily occupied territories into the Russian political and cultural space,” the post states.