Moscow Enforces War Cult in Occupied Territories: Schools Equipped with ‘Hero Desks’ for Propaganda
In the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, Moscow has intensified its information and ideological campaign aimed at promoting mythologized heroism and the eternal glory of Russian soldiers.
According to the National Resistance Center, Russian officials have ordered all occupying ‘Ministries of Education’ to urgently accelerate the installation of so-called ‘Hero Desks’ in schools and kindergartens operating in these territories.
This initiative is part of broader programs called ‘Historical Memory’ and ‘New School,’ controlled by the pro-Russian political party ‘United Russia.’ The largest number of such patriotic furniture has already been installed in Russian-occupied Crimea, where they are now also set up in preschools.
In these institutions, children are told fabricated stories about the ‘heroic’ journey of Russian soldiers, allegedly fighting against ‘criminal Ukrainian authorities’ and conquering fame in their struggle against Nazism.
Representatives of the Resistance Center point out that occupation educational institutions are under full Moscow control, and their main focus is ideological shaping of the youth.
Many schools replace standard furniture with ‘Hero Desks’ — special large tables inscribed with stories of ‘liberator heroes,’ intended to foster love for the Russian army and its figures.
Educators are compelled to conduct so-called ‘Courage Lessons,’ displaying photos of slain Russian aggressors to create a positive image of Russia’s military actions in Ukraine.
Even teachers admit that these ‘Desks’ serve as propaganda tools.
The Center emphasizes that the ‘Hero Desk’ has become a symbol of the degradation of education under occupation — replacing factual history with myths of victory and greatness, and substituting true facts with propaganda messages.
Additionally, Russian authorities have introduced a system of ‘incentives’ for schools, colleges, and universities that support the occupation authorities, turning educational institutions into centers of pro-Russian ideology and preparing future mobilized soldiers.