A new Russian school textbook is stirring controversy. The three-volume “Military History of Russia” claims Moscow was “forced” to invade Ukraine. The textbook compares Russia’s actions to the Soviet Union’s fight against Nazi Germany in World War II.
Accusations against NATO and Ukraine
The book, released in Moscow this week, includes a chapter accusing NATO of turning Ukraine into an “aggressive anti-Russian bridgehead” in 2014. This, the book argues, pushed Russia to take Crimea and eventually wage war on Kyiv.
Medinsky’s role in shaping history
Targeted at children aged 15 and older, the book is edited by Vladimir Medinsky, a close ally of Putin. Medinsky, who led the failed peace talks in 2022, has also co-authored other official Russian history books. These texts align with Putin’s vision for Russia, offering a revised history that puts the blame for the war on the West.
Defending the “special military operation”
Military historian Ivan Basik, who is connected to the Russian army, defended the book at a TASS news conference. “The most important task was to explain to the younger generation the ‘forced nature’ of the ‘Special Military Operation’ carried out by Russia,” he said. This term is how Putin refers to the invasion.
The Ukrainian government has sharply criticized the book. Kyiv sees it as another attempt to brainwash children with pro-Russian propaganda. The war, now entering its third year, is the backdrop for this educational campaign.
Rewriting history in Russian classrooms
This textbook is not the first to justify the invasion. Other history books, introduced after the war began, have claimed that Ukraine is a “neo-Nazi state” and that Russia is a “country of heroes.” These books aim to frame the conflict in a way that supports the Russian government’s narrative.
Ukraine, however, calls Russia’s actions unprovoked. According to Kyiv, Moscow’s repeated invasions are an effort to expand its territory at the cost of countless lives. General Keith Kellogg, a former U.S. envoy to Ukraine, has estimated that Russia’s casualties exceed 800,000 since the war began.
A clear push for pro-Russian propaganda
This new textbook is a clear sign that Russia is continuing its efforts to rewrite history and justify its actions in Ukraine. The Russian government is targeting the younger generation, hoping to shape their views of the conflict. But as Kyiv and Western officials point out, this effort is nothing more than state-sponsored propaganda.
