INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
A young school child who was born after Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine writes 11 Years Together on an illustration at his rural school
in Siberia.This illustration becomes part of a nationwide patriotic project called Colors of Crimea.Launched by the pro-government youth
company The Movement of the First, the effort happened across Russia in the lead-up to March 18, the 11th anniversary of Crimeas annexation
from Ukraine.It is among a number of anniversary activities happening in Russian schools that aim to indoctrinate schoolchildren with the
Kremlins variation of the annexation.Russia introduced a military operation to seize Crimea in February 2014
Equipped men without insignia occupied government structures, military bases and key infrastructure
Only later did President Vladimir Putin acknowledge they were Russian troops
At the time, Ukraine was in crisis following the political turmoil of the Maidan Revolution and was not able to mount a reliable response
On March 16, 2014, a referendum on Crimeas status was held under Russian military guidance
Pro-Russian authorities declared that more than 96% of voters supported Crimeas incorporation into Russia
The referendum was commonly dismissed by Ukraine and the global neighborhood, Putin formally signed the annexation two days later.A school
child in the Krasnoyarsk region draws the Crimean Bridge.VKAs part of the Colors of Crimea campaign, children were taught about the
peninsulas landmarks before drawing renowned websites like the Swallows Nest fortress
In some cases, they colored the Ukrainian peninsula in the colors of the Russian flag.In the Moscow area, some kids illustrations consisted
of mottos such as Crimea and Russia: Together Forever, One Country
One People and Crimea is Russia
At the end of the lesson, students were photographed in front of their drawings displayed on the class chalkboard.May the memory of this
event influence us to new accomplishments and enhance our unity! Movement of the First organizers composed in the republic of
Bashkortostan.Young primary school students, who might deal with making use of their own, color in pre-made illustrations of Crimeas
landmarks with the help of their art teachers.At the Russian Railways Lyceum, more youthful trainees were introduced to Crimea through an
Eight-year-olds sketched endangered animals belonging to the peninsula, while very first graders in the Ural region were photographed
holding handmade heart-shaped cutouts to celebrate Crimeas reunification with Russia.Observers state these activities are an effective
method to form the next generations worldview to line up with the Kremlins narrative.Authorities are preparing for the future
Young children can not critically process [the annexation], but when the message comes from a trusted grownup, they wont concern it
The younger the kid, the more effective this technique is, a Russian school psychologist informed The Moscow Times, speaking on condition of
privacy for security reasons.A school takes part in the Colors of Crimea campaign.VKFor those who did not get a possibility to draw Crimean
landscapes in class, The Movement of the First released an online flash mob
Participants were instructed to post their illustrations on the social media platform VKontakte utilizing the official hashtags of the youth
movement, frequently compared to the Soviet Young Pioneers.In late February, the ruling United Russia celebration introduced the Russian
Crimea and Sevastopol project targeting middle and high school students.As part of the effort, high school seniors were instructed to view a
pre-recorded online lesson by Senator Yekaterina Altabaeva, who served as the head of Sevastopols Legislative Assembly following the
addition of Crimea.As early as 1993 [under Ukrainian rule], extreme Russophobes began coming to Crimea
They came to impose new heroes like [Stepan] Bandera and require Russians to abandon their native language
There was to be no Russian left only forced Ukrainization, Altabaeva claimed within the first 3 minutes of the lesson, repeating extensively
unmasked Kremlin talking points.She then outlined her variation of Russian Crimeas history, Ukrainian governance of the peninsula and the
mass demonstrations in Kyiv after pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych refused to sign a cooperation arrangement with the
EU.Schoolchildren from the Kemerovo area paint the Swallows Nest fortress in Crimea.VKNazism became the foundation of a Western-funded coup,
Altabaeva claims when explaining the 2014 protests in Kyiv.The students heard firsthand once again how individuals of Sevastopol and Crimea
fought for the chance to reunite with Russia, a school administration in Labytangi, a town beyond the Arctic Circle, wrote on social
media.After the lesson, students were needed to view one of two films one about required Ukrainization and another about the insanity of
They then responded to questions about Crimeas modern history.Students should comprehend how highly our nation stands against injustice,
fascism and nationalism and what interests our country is defending in the course of the special military operation, said State Duma deputy
Aydyn Saryglar.For middle schoolers, United Russia organized drawing and poster competitors including Crimea, as well as a storytelling
contest titled The History of Crimea in My Family.The most active students will win a journey to Crimea and Sevastopol, United Russias
General Council Secretary Vladimir Yakushev promised
Winners will receive their travel vouchers in September.Conversations About Important Things, the propaganda lessons contributed to Russias
school curriculum following the invasion of Ukraine, have likewise been instructing trainees about the annexation ahead of its 11th
anniversary.On Monday, students were taught about Russian Crimea and the 100th anniversary of Artek, the former Soviet-era leader camp on
the peninsula.For more youthful trainees, the addition was framed as a return to the native household, while high schoolers were presented
to the lesson with a quote from Putin: Crimea is instilled with our shared history and pride.Children play a game called Conversations About
Crimea in the republic of Chuvashia.VKDuring the Conversations About Important Things, students spoken with well-known previous Artek guests
including previous Prosecutor General Yury Chaika, the topic of a well-known examination by Alexei Navalny; Central Election Commission
chief Ella Pamfilova, who has actually disallowed independent candidates from recent presidential elections; and Anatoly Torkunov, rector of
the elite Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO)
In some schools, consultants on upbringing a position presented after Russias full-blown invasion assisted celebrate the additions 11th
anniversary.In the republic of Chuvashia, kids played a game called Conversations About Crimea, where they guessed legends about the
peninsula before taking a virtual trip utilizing online maps.In Vorkuta, a city beyond the Arctic Circle, consultants on upbringing
organized a video call entitled Together Forever in between local trainees and kids from Crimea.This teleconference was more than just a
meeting it marked the start of new relationships between Vorkuta, Crimea, Sevastopol and Novorossiysk, the regional Education Ministry
composed on social media.In the 11 years given that Crimeas addition, a whole generation of Russians has actually grown up only knowing the
peninsula as part of their nation not Ukraine.When perestroika happened, my worldview shifted over night
Suddenly, individuals around me were openly going over the cult of character, and in history class, we brought paper clippings since our
textbooks were already dated, the confidential school psychologist remembered to The Moscow Times of their teenage years.As teens, our minds
were flexible we accepted all of it with interest and a desire to reconsider whatever, they stated
I believe one day, the exact same will take place again.
