Ukraine's Lost Generation: Forced Russification in Mariupol

Forced Russification in Mariupol: Children Sing Russian Anthem, Participate in Military Drills Mariupol, a Ukrainian port city annexed by Russia three years ago, is the scene of a disturbing trend: the forced Russification of its youth. A recent video reveals children in a local school singing the Russian national anthem and participating in military drills. The actions are part of a broader effort to erase Ukrainian identity and culture from the region. "It is our duty to educate our children in Russian patriotism from birth," explains a teacher in the video, her words highlighting the systematic nature of the indoctrination. The video also features a returning Russian soldier who oversees military training for the children. He describes the training as preparation for the ultimate sacrifice in the name of defending the motherland. The emotional contrast is stark: the innocence of the children juxtaposed against the harsh reality of their forced participation in activities that promote war and Russian nationalism. The video serves as a powerful reminder of the ongoing human cost of the conflict in Ukraine and the long-term consequences of forced assimilation. The video's impact lies in its visual evidence of the systematic effort to shape the identity of a generation. It underscores the importance of international attention to the ongoing human rights violations in occupied territories.