Moscow prepares aggressive nationalists out of the young residents of Russia - UK Intelligence

The independent Russian media outlet Verstka informs about a growing prevalence of texts supporting the so-called "Special Military Operation" directed against the West. Soviet literature and patriotic/pro-Russian military texts are being promoted in schools.

Verstka also provides examples of cases where the Russian authorities order mentions of Ukraine to be removed from textbooks.

According to UK intelligence, the Russian state seeks to use the education system to shape a more militarized and nationalist society. The 2024 Youth Strategy speaks about the importance of "increasing the prestige of military service and providing support to young military personnel and their families."

Almost certainly, the goal is to encourage both deeper support for Russia's illegal war against Ukraine and greater readiness among young people to join an army suffering significant losses. These efforts are also aimed at instilling in Russian youth a rejection of Ukraine's legally mandated and internationally recognized statehood and sovereignty, the report says.

"It is likely that the politicization and militarization of Russian education, coupled with increasing ideological indoctrination of Russian children and young people more broadly, will perpetuate aggressive, expansionist Russian nationalism in the longer term," the UK Ministry of Defense notes.

According to the independent Levada Center, support for the war against Ukraine among residents of Russia has risen to a maximum. In February 2025, the level of support for the war reached 80%. Previously, such numbers were recorded in March 2022.