Russian Schools Push Pro-War Propaganda

0:00This is Cory with the story, and here's what's making news across the globe right now. Russian schools are ramping up patriotic programs aimed at kids, pushing the idea that the war in Ukraine is a defensive fight. This push came into sharp focus through an Oscar-winning BBC documentary called Mr. Nobody Against Putin. The film draws from secret footage shot by a school-events organizer named Pavl Telenkin in a small-year-old mountain's town back in 2022. Right as Russia's full-scale invasion began, history textbooks got quick rewrites to match the official line on the special military operation. Just last month, the education ministry rolled out approved toys and games for nurseries to build traditional values and loyalty. Kids now join flag-waving events and new youth groups echoing Soviet times, all to build unquestioned support. Parents like one mother named Nina face a tough spot. Her daughter loves the classes and friends there. Also skipping them risks, leaving the girl feeling left out.

1:00Other families keep quiet at home to avoid trouble if kids repeat anti-war views at school. A psychotherapist advises steering clear of direct fights and instead stressing basics like valuing human life and peaceful solutions. Implementation differs across schools. Some dive in fully, while teachers elsewhere tone it down or resist quietly. Experts note young kids soak up authority figures words easily, and studies from history show school messaging can stick long term, especially with. State media backing it up. Family pushback often wins out eventually, though Russia's info control makes it unpredictable. Pobble to Lincoln fled Russia in 2024 for safety after his film exposed the pressure. Teens now often stay neutral at school, avoiding deep talks on the war to keep friendships intact. As these programs grow, parents keep navigating the divide between home truths and classroom loyalty.