Russian students describe growing patriotic education focused on Ukraine war

The Russian government has been placing growing emphasis on teaching patriotism to children from an early age, according to accounts gathered by Deutsche Welle from students in Siberia.

In interviews, students described how discussions of patriotism and the war in Ukraine have become a regular part of their school experience, reflecting a broader push by authorities to shape young people's views on the conflict and on the country's role in it.

The students' accounts point to a systematic effort inside Russian schools to frame the war and national identity in ways that align with the government's official narrative, though the specific content and intensity of these lessons can vary between schools and regions.

Independent assessments of Russia's education policy have previously noted an expansion of patriotic curricula since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, though the accounts described here reflect the personal experiences and perspectives of the students who spoke to DW rather than an official government statement.

DW's report did not include an official response from Russian education authorities regarding the students' characterization of the curriculum. The broader debate over the role of patriotic education in Russian schools continues to draw attention from international observers monitoring the war's effects on Russian society.