Chronicles of Indoctrination

In the first half of July, children were once again at the center of state militarization efforts: students were encouraged to postpone education for war, kindergartners learned about tank battles, the Russian language was officially declared an ideological tool, and a metropolitan priest blessed a children’s military camp.

📌 Playing War on an International Level — A 10-day militarist game called Heirs of Victory concluded at Patriot Park. Activities included assembling drones, shooting, navigating obstacle courses, and hybrid “phygital” battles — all designed to help schoolchildren from Russia, Kazakhstan, and Belarus feel closer to the front lines. Naturally, the Russian team won.

📌 Go to War — Get a Study Extension — The State Duma passed a law extending the validity of university entrance exam scores (EGE) for school graduates who choose to delay their education in order to fight in the so-called “Special Military Operation”.

📌 Russian Language Becomes Ideology — Putin signed a decree on a new state language policy rooted in “spiritual values” and a fight against “harmful ideology”. Russian language and literature will now be taught using a single state-approved methodology and textbook series. The government will decide which books are “correct” and how language should be taught.

📌 Holy Water and Camouflage — In Udmurtia, Metropolitan Viktorin blessed the children’s military camp Razvedbat, where students are trained in self-defense and weapons handling. He sprinkled holy water on the tents, urged children to “be ready to defend the Motherland,” and posed for a photo with kids who were asked to make tough faces and show their fists.

📌 Tank Battles for Preschoolers — In kindergartens across Belgorod region, a special day was held to commemorate the Battle of Prokhorovka. Children learned about the battle, viewed photos of the battlefield, and were asked to draw war scenes. “They may not yet understand the horror,” wrote the educators, “but what matters is that they know they live in Russia — a Great Country.”