Music, military uniform … In this Marioupol school, a new ritual scores the traditional final ceremony. Under the applause of their little comrades, students receive their diploma and sing the National Anthem of Russia.
From the conquest of the city, three years ago, the Kremlin is busy by rebuilding the buildings it has bombarded, such as this newly restored school where BFMTV teams have been able to surrender. In a row, the Russian flag floating on the head, children touch the nation standard with their fingers. As a way to literally cover the Ukrainian identity of the young generation.
“Touching the flag symbolizes our unit with Russia, we belong to Russia now, it is our duty to educate our children with Russian patriotism and this from birth,” explains BFMTV Tatiana Tchekurova, the director of the school.
And this strategy already seems to bear fruit. The united blue scarf around his neck, a child with a youthful face already knows exactly what he will do when he is high. “I want to become a FSB agent, Russian internal security services, to catch terrorists,” says the little schoolboy. The “terrorists” are what are called Ukrainian resistance combatants in this conquered city.
From the first months of the Russian invasion in early 2022, the city of Marioupol, a strategic port in southeastern Ukraine, was besieged, destroyed and taken by the Russian forces. The city, which has become one of the symbols of the suffering of the Ukrainian people, is in the heart of the Kremlin Rusification strategy, in the attached territories.
“The best army in the world”
Dress with a green uniform, the Russian flag shield on the shoulder and head covers the head, the children walk under the wise eye of their teacher. “Hello partner! Reserve soldiers!” “Hello comrade professor!” Still in Marioupol, teenagers are already preparing to defend their homeland.
Under the orders of a soldier who returns from the front, they receive the necessary military education to wait one day to fight the enemy. “Are everyone ready to serve?” Question Valentin Rodionov, Russian soldier. “Affirmative!” He responds to young heart recruits.
“If 1% of my students join the army, then we will have the best army in the world. Only that is enough for us. I am the orders of the president of the Russian Federation,” said Valentin Rodionov.
A youth that walks is the bet of Russian President Vladimir Putin to make Marioupol’s annexation irreversible. In addition to schools, Power has quickly built new apartments, nicknamed “Vladimir Putin’s apartments.” A way of making you forget the siege of a city destined to become a coastal complex, a showcase of power and its well -ordered youth.
Source: BFM TV
