Rewriting History: Russia’s Campaign to Indoctrinate Occupied Ukraine

The textbook, titled 'Donbas and Novorossiya' and designed for primary students, characterizes Ukrainian nationalists as collaborators and claims the invasion was a response to the 'aggression of the Kyiv regime.' It specifically targets the 1991 independence vote, attempting to convince students that the region never desired sovereignty. This narrative directly contradicts documented history, which shows that over 83 percent of voters in both Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts supported independence in the 1991 referendum.

This educational offensive mirrors a broader internal shift within Russia, where the rehabilitation of Joseph Stalin has become a pillar of the political regime. According to a recent Levada Centre survey, 59 percent of Russians now view Stalin positively, a trend fueled by the state’s efforts to suppress historical memory of Soviet-era crimes. By dismantling institutions that once commemorated victims of communism and promoting nostalgia for the USSR, the Kremlin creates a foundation for its current expansionist ideology.

On the front lines, meanwhile, the tactical situation remains fluid. Colombian volunteers, the largest contingent of foreign fighters in the Ukrainian army, recently cleared approximately 7.5 square kilometers of territory near Dvorichna. While Russian sources downplayed the retreat, the move marks a significant shift in a critical sector where Moscow has attempted to bypass Kupiansk. As combat intensifies, cities like Sloviansk and Kramatorsk have been officially designated as zones of active operations, reflecting the grim reality that the war’s front remains a volatile and dangerous constant for civilians.