British intelligence has analyzed Russia's systematic propaganda campaign targeting Ukrainian youth in temporarily occupied territories, according to a September 6 analysis reported by European Truth.
"The forcible political education of Ukrainian youth by the Russian authorities in the illegally occupied territories of Ukraine continues," the intelligence assessment states. "The Russian Ministry of Defence youth organisation Yunarmiya and the Kremlin youth organisation Movement of the Firsts are amongst those organisations teaching Ukrainian children military skills, and indoctrinating them with pro-Russian and anti-Ukrainian propaganda."
The British intelligence noted that Russian education authorities aim at countering purported extremism, a term defined broadly by Russian authorities. "A 2022 Russian Ministry of Education manual titled 'Preventing conflicts, manifestations of extremism and terrorism in a poly-cultural educational environment' claimed the expression 'Slava Ukraine' (Glory to Ukraine) to be an indicator of extremism," according to the analysis.
Since 2022, Russian authorities have implemented what they call "University Sessions" programme, transporting children from occupied Ukrainian regions to Russian universities for so-called patriotic education. "This aims to inculcate the children with an anti-Ukrainian outlook, as well as glorifying Russian military exploits. Since 2022, around 50,000 Ukrainian children have attended these sessions at 116 Russian universities," the intelligence report reveals.
British intelligence recently reported that Russia conscripts young Ukrainians into the Russian army upon reaching age 18, with many having been abducted from occupied Ukrainian territories during childhood.
In related developments, the British government imposed sanctions on September 3 against individuals involved in the abduction of Ukrainian children by Russia.
