Occupied Ukraine’s schools get a new Russian ideology class, a separate military-training track, and behavior grades from 1 September
Behavior grades for children as young as the second grade, a standalone military-training course, and a compulsory Russian identity subject take effect together across the temporarily occupied territories from 1 September.
On September 1, 2026, Ukrainian children residing in Russian-occupied territories will begin attending a revamped curriculum focused on fostering loyalty to the Russian state. This curriculum overhaul, confirmed by the Crimean Tatar Resource Center, merges three previously separate initiatives into a single school term. The Russian-occupied Ukrainian authorities have introduced a new subject called Spiritual and Moral Culture of Russia, aimed at children aged 10 to 13.
They have also split the existing course on security and defense into two tracks: life safety and basic military training, intensifying the militarization of occupied schooling. Additionally, a behavioral grading system with three tiers - exemplary, acceptable, or unacceptable - will be implemented for students in grades 2 through 8.
This new ideological and military indoctrination through education aims to strip Ukrainian children of their national identity, despite their unwilling participation in Russia's war against Ukraine.
Written by urgent.news from Euromaidan Press's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
