Russian schools widely marked the twelfth anniversary of the annexation of Crimea. Students took part in homeroom lessons, quizzes, meetings with “participants of the special military operation,” and dictations based on Putin’s quotes. In schools, the day was framed as an opportunity to “form patriotic consciousness” and discuss the country’s “unity.”
There were also militarized activities. For example, in the Kirov region, the date was marked with the game “Zarnitsa 2.0” , featuring tasks “close to real conditions,” as well as airsoft shooting competitions using Makarov pistols and meetings with “SMO participants.” In some regions, children were taken outside school grounds to attend rallies and concerts.
Among the most common formats were homeroom lessons titled “One Country — One History,” quizzes like “Crimea Experts,” and the campaign “Russia — a Family of Families,” during which students wrote dictations composed of Putin’s quotes.
