Russia’s Policy of Eradicating the Identity of Children in the TOT of Ukraine: Results for 2025
The analytical report of the Centre for Civic Education “Almenda” is dedicated to the analysis of the policy of the Russian Federation towards Ukrainian children residing in the temporarily occupied territories (TOT). The study covers the year 2025 and documents a large-scale, institutionally established system of militarisation, political indoctrination, and the erasure of Ukrainian identity through education and youth policy.
The report highlights:
- the large-scale supply of federal history textbooks for grades 5–9;
- the removal of the Ukrainian language from the educational process;
- the introduction of ideologised courses and an increase in the number of history lessons;
- the expansion of the “Young Army” and the “Movement of the First”;
- the development of cadet class networks;
- the use of anti-extremism legislation to suppress Ukrainian identity;
- the operation of militarised camps and “Warrior” training centres;
- the systematic transfer of children from the TOT under the guise of “recreational” and educational programmes.
As of the 2025/2026 academic year, more than 582,600 children are enrolled in 1,980 schools in the TOT that have been transferred to Russian educational standards.
The documented changes indicate the formation of a long-term state strategy of the Russian Federation aimed at transforming children’s worldview, militarising them, and preparing them for service in the structures of the aggressor state.
The report is based on the analysis of information from open sources published on official websites and social media platforms, including: official communications of Ukrainian state authorities; reports and publications of human rights and civil society organisations; normative legal acts of the Russian Federation and occupation administrations in the fields of education, youth policy, countering extremism, and patriotic education; as well as communications of state authorities of the Russian Federation and occupation administrations.
This analytical report was prepared by the NGO Centre for Civic Education “Almenda” with the support of the Askold and Dir Foundation, administered by ISAR Ednannia as part of the project “Strong Civil Society of Ukraine as a Driver of Reforms and Democracy”, funded by Norway and Sweden. The content of this publication is the sole responsibility of the NGO Centre for Civic Education “Almenda” and does not necessarily reflect the views of the governments of Norway, Sweden or ISAR Ednannia.
