Since September 2022, Russian schoolchildren have been required to attend weekly lessons called 'Conversations about Important Matters,' which promote the government's narrative on the Ukraine war. These mandatory sessions, attended by 18 million students aged 6 to 18, frame the conflict as a defense against neo-Nazis and justify actions in Crimea. The program uses emotional storytelling and scripted guides to instill militaristic values.
The 'Conversations about Important Matters' initiative began on September 5, 2022, six months after Russian tanks crossed into Ukraine on February 24, 2022. Every Monday during the first period, students from first to 11th grade learn topics like serving the motherland, restoring historical justice in Crimea, and portraying Russian soldiers as true heroes compared to fictional Western ones. By October 2025, students had attended 102 such lessons, according to materials obtained by a Russian emigrant journalist who analyzed textbooks and lesson plans shared by a current student.
The program's guides, distributed weekly from Moscow, provide teachers with pre-written questions and answers to avoid independent thought. Its stated goal is to foster moral qualities like honor and responsibility, but content prioritizes obedience to Putin's historical views. For instance, a lesson on the 80th anniversary of World War II Victory instructs teachers to evoke pre-war village life before asking: “What qualities are needed today by Russian fighters battling for the Motherland against Ukrainian neo-Nazis in the Special Military Operation zone?” The guide adds: “Our servicemen participating today in the ‘special military operation’ continue the great traditions of their grandfathers and great-grandfathers, fighting for justice with honor and courage.”
On Crimea, annexed in 2014, lessons describe the takeover as “restoration of historical justice” and a “return to the family home.” Teachers must quote Putin: “In Crimea, literally everything is permeated with our common history and pride. Here is ancient Chersonesos, where Saint Prince Vladimir was baptized. … Crimea is Sevastopol, a city of legend, a city of great destiny, a fortress city and birthplace of the Russian Black Sea Fleet.” The 2014 referendum is presented as a free vote by residents, omitting the presence of Russian soldiers.
Propaganda techniques include emotional setups, false dichotomies between Russia and the West, and age-specific content—from fairy tales for young children to geopolitics for teens. Videos feature figures like 'Z-war correspondent' Evgeny Poddubny, who says: “A hero is someone ready to sacrifice himself for others,” and director Nikita Mikhalkov, contrasting real Russian heroes with Western fiction: “These aren’t Bruce Lee, not transformers, not Schwarzeneggers. These are different people. But they are people. And the blood there isn’t ketchup, but real. And the death is real.”
This effort extends to integrating military veterans into teaching via the 'Defenders of the Fatherland' fund, established by Putin's April 2023 decree. The program operates in occupied Ukrainian territories, compelling local children to adopt the curriculum. Teacher resistance exists but risks dismissal, as implementation is mandatory. Critics, including the article's author, argue it violates the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child by prioritizing war preparation over human rights education, turning schools into tools for militarism and xenophobia.