https://arab.news/8h464
- The books features Russia鈥檚 bridge linking annexed Crimea to the mainland on its cover 鈥� a symbol of Putin鈥檚 rule that has been attacked several times during the conflict
MOSCOW: Written in record time and praising the army: Moscow unveiled new history textbooks Monday ahead of children returning to the classroom for a second school year with troops fighting in Ukraine and ruptured ties with the West.
The Kremlin has tightened its control over the historical narrative in schools under President Vladimir Putin 鈥� a trend that has hugely accelerated since Moscow launched its Ukraine offensive last year.
The conflict has increasingly been presented to the youngest Russians as part of Moscow鈥檚 historical mission.
Presenting the new book aimed for the 11th grade 鈥� 17 year olds 鈥� at a press conference in Moscow, Education Minister Sergei Kravtsov said the material was written in just a few months and aimed at 鈥渃onveying the aims (of the Ukraine offensive) to school children.鈥�
鈥淭he tasks of demilitarization and de-nazification, so that schoolchildren are convinced that this is really the case,鈥� he said, repeating Putin鈥檚 stated aims when he sent troops to Ukraine last February.
The books features Russia鈥檚 bridge linking annexed Crimea to the mainland on its cover 鈥� a symbol of Putin鈥檚 rule that has been attacked several times during the conflict.
It covers the period between 1945 to the 21st century and Kravtsov said it will be 鈥渋n all schools on September 1.鈥�
The book was written in 鈥渏ust under five months,鈥� Kravtsov said.
鈥淎fter the end of the special military operation (in Ukraine), after our victory, we will further supplement this book,鈥� he added.
Presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky, who is known for conservative view of history and has been criticized by some historians, praised the speedy production.
鈥淣o textbook has ever been created in our country in such a short time,鈥� he said.
鈥淭he authors wrote it practically with their own hand.鈥�
He said the textbook presents 鈥渢he state鈥檚 point of view.鈥�
The book features sections on Russian soldiers 鈥渟aving peace鈥� in 2014 when Moscow annexed the Crimea peninsula from Ukraine.
It also denounces Western sanctions, describing them as worse than Napoleon, who marched on Russia in 1812.
Russia has unleashed an unprecedented crackdown on dissent during its Ukraine offensive, which has extended into schools.
In April, a Russian girl was taken away from her father after she drew a picture in support of Ukraine at school.
After the start of the Ukraine operation, a new subject 鈥� 鈥淭alks on what is important鈥� 鈥� was introduced in Russian schools, meant to instil patriotism in children.