Kremlin’s Covert Efforts to Indoctrinate Children in Occupied Luhansk Regions
In the temporarily occupied territories of Luhansk, Russian forces have intensified their efforts to shape a new generation aligned with their propagandistic agenda, with long-term plans to manipulate these children as tools for destabilizing Ukraine further.
Officials originating from Moscow have launched an initiative called “Conversations on Important Topics,” targeting kindergarten-aged children from three to seven years old.
According to Oleksiy Kharchenko, head of the Luhansk Regional Military Administration, these lessons are entirely propagandistic and are designed to instill in children certain values deemed favorable by Moscow — such as nurturing a positive attitude toward war, normalizing participation in armed conflicts, and preparing them for involvement in future hostilities.
The methods used are deeply concerning to Ukrainian experts, as they aim not only to indoctrinate the youngest generation with Russian ideology but also to embed them into a broader propaganda framework.
Additionally, the region is witnessing attempts to militarize teenagers — purportedly to develop “tourism” amidst ruins and abandoned towns, an approach that raises alarms regarding youth safety and long-term regional stability.
Meanwhile, the region suffers from large-scale fires caused by uncontrolled wildfires spreading across Sтанично-Луганська and Shirokivska communities.
Kharchenko reports that over 500 hectares of land have been incinerated, and more than 100 households destroyed or damaged.
The strong wind has exacerbated the situation, pushing flames into new areas and causing disruptions such as loss of mobile communication and power outages in several settlements.
Local rescue services are stretched thin, and additional forces from Russia have not yet arrived, worsening the crisis.
The propagandistic activities are complemented by the organization of “historical tours” for children from temporarily occupied Kherson, an effort to revive Stalin’s legacy and foster love for Soviet-era symbolism among Ukrainian youth.
This ongoing hybrid warfare underscores the Kremlin’s intentions to manipulate, control, and destabilize Ukraine through targeted disinformation, indoctrination, and psychological operations aimed at the youngest generation.