Schoolchildren being drawn into military ideology in occupied Melitopol
Illustrative photo: schoolchildren in occupied Melitopol being drawn into military ideology (Getty Images)
In occupied Melitopol, schoolchildren were given an unusual assignment during art class. Instead of regular schoolwork, the children were asked to draw a soldier involved in the aggression against Ukraine, according to a post from the Zla Mavka Telegram channel.
At School No. 5 in Melitopol, children were tasked not with drawing a landscape or still life, but a portrait of drone operator Yevgeniy Dranitsyn, who is participating in the war against Ukraine on Russia’s side.
Presence of the Yunarmiya
According to media reports, the task was monitored by teachers as well as members of the so-called Yunarmiya (all-Russian military patriotic social movement - ed.), who oversaw the process.
Actions of the occupying authorities in schools in the occupied territories
Earlier, we reported that Russia is preparing new measures of pressure on families whose children continue studying in Ukrainian schools via online platforms in temporarily occupied territories. Such actions are seen as an attempt to intimidate parents and force them to abandon Ukrainian education.
In addition, in the occupied cities of Donetsk and Luhansk, representatives of the Russian Military-Historical Society introduced new history textbooks for students in grades 5–7. Their main goal is to instill a distorted perception of the region’s and Ukraine’s past in children, which is viewed as a form of propaganda and an attempt to impose an interpretation of historical events favorable to the occupiers.
The Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine has approved model curricula for children living in temporarily occupied territories. These materials are designed to provide students with access to Ukrainian education and allow them to study according to national standards, despite pressure from the occupying authorities.
Furthermore, on September 18, 2025, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine (parliament) approved, in the second reading and as a whole, draft law No. 11543. The document provides for strengthened security measures in general secondary education institutions, aimed at protecting students and creating safer learning conditions.
