Russians force kids in occupied areas to ‘celebrate Victory Day’ early and praise Putin

The Russians are forcing Ukrainian children to celebrate Victory Day in January – months ahead of schedule, as it is usually celebrated on May 9 – in the temporarily occupied city of Enerhodar in Zaporizhzhia region. 

The Ukrainian resistance movement Yellow Ribbon reports that the propaganda campaign began with the first school assembly of the new semester.

“The need for war propaganda in occupied territories is so strong that the Russians have compelled schoolchildren in Enerhodar to start celebrating May 9 from day one of the semester,” the statement said.

Children are being forced to create victory posters, chant the slogan “We can do it again,” and sing the anthems of Russia and the Soviet Union [“We can do it again” (“Можем повторить”) is a Russian propaganda slogan referencing the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany, implying the ability to repeat it.]

“These activities are then broadcast on local media,” activists added.

The National Resistance Center (NRC) also revealed that the Russians in occupied territories are coercing children to express gratitude to Russian dictator Vladimir Putin.

“In the captured kindergartens in temporarily occupied territories, the Russians held an international day of ‘gratitude’ among children,” the NRC said.

As part of the event, children were forced to create crafts thanking Putin. 

“The children thanked the occupiers and their leader for depriving them of their childhood and bringing war into their homes,” the NRC said.

The militarization of children is one of the most alarming tools of Russia’s cognitive occupation, according to a report by the Center for Countering Disinformation.

“This is a calculated effort to manipulate the consciousness of Ukrainians through propaganda, information control, and changes to educational and cultural programs,” the report said.