UK intelligence reveals how Russia is militarizing youth through its education system

This is stated in the UK’s latest review of the Russia–Ukraine war, dated April 21.

The review says that since 2022, Russia’s education system has become even more politicized, ideologized, and militarized — all in line with the broader goals of the Kremlin.

As an example, the independent Russian media outlet Verstka points to materials showing that school content now includes more pro-war messaging and content hostile to the West, loaded with patriotic, pro-Russian narratives — while mentions of Ukraine are being erased.

"The Russian state highly likely seeks to use the education system to develop a more militarised, nationalistic society. The 2024 Youth Strategy spoke of the importance of 'increasing the prestige of military service and providing support to young military personnel and their families,'" analysts write.

"The intent is almost certainly to facilitate both deeper support for Russia's illegal war against Ukraine, and greater willingness amongst the young to join a military suffering significant casualties. These efforts also seek to indoctrinate Russia's young into a rejection of the legally mandated, and internationally recognised basis for Ukraine's nationhood and sovereignty," they note.

British intelligence suggests that this kind of indoctrination and militarization of education — and of broader programs targeting children and youth — will, over time, cement aggressive, expansionist thinking across Russian society.