Kremlin's youth indoctrination: War heroes teaching "patriotism"

The Kremlin aims to educate a new generation of loyal soldiers who believe in the "greatness of Russia." Leading war propagandists are teaching at Russian universities, and veterans of assault battalions are teaching "patriotism" in Russian schools.

Good morning, students. Today, our country is going through a tough time. We are ending, and there is no one to replace us. This war will last long. This is a holy war for truth. We are fighting against evil, which does not disdain any methods. If we lose, no one will escape with their lives. They will come for your mothers, sisters, and brothers. They will harm them—Daniil Tulenkov convinced students.

- Forget about universities, parties, and other nonsense. Go to the front and learn to dig. Dig, dig, and dig again. This will be useful to you - he told students.

He also encouraged female students to look for boys who participated in the war. - Love them, treat them gently - he said.

The teacher introduced Tulenkov as a "hero of Russia" and a "participant in combat operations." Tulenkov joined the army straight from prison. At the end of 2010, he was accused of fraud. Initially, he received a suspended sentence, but in April 2022, he ended up behind bars. In the spring of 2023, he enlisted in Storm Z, the "volunteer" unit of the Ministry of Defense for convicts, an alternative to the Wagner Group.

Why did he appear in the school? In every Russian school, "lessons of valor" are held. The Russian Ministry of Education decided back in 2017 to allow uniformed personnel (police, military, or FSB officers) to conduct "patriotic talks" with students.

Moscow State University, one of the most important universities in Russia, announced the start of a new master's program in "Strategic Communications, Information Technologies, and Hybrid Warfare."

The face of the new program is the well-known Russian writer Zakhar Prilepin, who has been fighting in the war with Ukraine for years. Prilepin is a leading propagandist of Putin's war. In May 2023, he was the target of an assassination attempt and barely escaped with his life. He did not return to the front. The writer wants to involve friendly war correspondents, experts, and political scientists in teaching at the university.

Philosopher Alexander Dugin, considered Putin's ideologue, has headed the Ivan Ilyin Higher Political School at the Russian State University for the Humanities. Thanks to this, he has elevated the 20th-century philosopher of Russian fascism, whose theories Putin has referenced since the beginning of the full-scale aggression.

During a meeting with students on the university's open days, he discussed "Russia's civilizational identity" and explained to Russian high school graduates that the confrontation with the West has led Russia to emphasize "the sovereignty of the humanities."

- This process was predictable. Instead of explaining the world to students and showing them the reality around them, the authorities aim for the youth in Russia to live in a world of illusions. Russia already experienced this during Soviet times - comments in "Rzeczpospolita" Leonid Gozman, a Russian dissident and longtime critic of Putin.