Russian expands military-focused classes in easternmost Luhansk region

Russian authorities in the occupied part of the easternmost Luhansk region are reshaping schools into instruments of war by opening more than 250 specialized classes, nearly 100 of which have a military focus, according to Luhansk Regional Military Administration head Oleksii Kharchenko.

“Boys and girls are being pushed toward war from childhood,” Kharchenko said.

The imbalance is striking: just 20 classes were opened for engineering, 11 for medicine, three for emergency services, and about 20 for agricultural training. 

These educational fields are normally tied to rebuilding communities, and supporting civilian life. In contrast, almost five times as many classes are focused on preparing children for combat. 

“The future of Luhansk does not concern the Russians. They need to pursue their bloody political ambitions at the expense of the youth in the occupied territories,” he said.

Russian occupiers are also training children in occupied Luhansk to serve as snipers. A so-called Warrior military-patriotic education center has implemented a new training program that is focused on sniping skills this year.

Earlier, in occupied Donetsk, Russia began a new phase of propaganda in kindergartens, putting even the youngest Ukrainian children under ideological pressure. Schools have also received teaching manuals instructing educators on how to “identify criminals” among children without Russian passports.