Chronicles of Indoctrination

The first week of June brought Russian children face-to-face with mercenaries, war-themed school supplies, violence at a “patriotic center,” and news of a planned presidential address to first graders.

📌 Putin in the Primer — New Primers for first graders may soon include a personal message from Vladimir Putin. The tricolor-themed textbook concept was presented by presidential adviser Yelena Yampolskaya, who said that “pride in a personal message from the head of state” would make the beginning of school “even more ceremonial” for children.

📌 Wagner Group in Kindergarten — In Samara region, Wagner fighters attended a kindergarten graduation ceremony at Sosenka preschool. They thanked the children for their humanitarian aid and gifted them patches bearing the Wagner Group emblem.

📌 Notebooks Featuring War Participants — In Zabaykalsky Krai, the Defenders of the Fatherland foundation released a series of school notebooks featuring portraits and biographies of soldiers who participated in the war. These notebooks will be used in Conversations About Important Things and “Lessons in Courage.” They are not yet available for retail sale.

📌 Patriotic Education = Child Abuse — In Novosibirsk region, a criminal case was opened against Danila Shargan, head of a local “patriotic center” and war participant, on charges of systematically beating children under his care. Despite the charges, Shargan continues to work with minors and was recently publicly thanked by a local school.