On the Russian national holiday, his visit to eastern Ukraine is supposed to have special symbolic power: According to state television, Moscow’s Minister of Education has announced that the school system in the occupied territories will be freed from anti-Russian content. Meanwhile, Kremlin boss Putin is solemnly handing out medals at home.
According to the media, Moscow’s Minister of Education Sergei Krawzow visited the Ukrainian region of Zaporizhia on the Russian national holiday and substantiated territorial claims there. According to the Interfax agency, Russia has come forever, the minister said in the city of Melitopol. “I wouldn’t have come if there was any doubt,” said the 48-year-old.
In a video released by Russia’s state television channel RT, he said that the education system would be rid of anti-Russian content, but the Ukrainian language would also continue to be taught. “The regime in Kyiv has fueled anti-Russian sentiment, effectively propaganda of Nazism and fascism,” Kravtsov claimed. It was not possible to independently verify whether he was really in the war zone.
The Russian leadership had repeatedly complained about the ideological orientation of the teaching material in Ukraine, including at the United Nations. The teachers are now being prepared and textbooks are being delivered, the minister said. After more than three months of Russian war of aggression, the Zaporizhia region is still partly under Ukrainian control. The neighboring southern Ukrainian region of Cherson is completely under Russian occupation.
While Kravtsov was celebrating the Russian holiday in Ukraine, the Russian leadership once again showed confidence in the war that began on February 24. Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin presented medals on the day of Russia. The country stands united and devoted to the homeland, he said. In Moscow there was a motorcade to support the Russian army in its war of aggression against Ukraine.
Moscow’s Foreign Ministry issued a holiday greeting card commemorating Russia’s victories in wars over the centuries – with the line addressed to NATO: “We have kindly asked not to expand eastward.” Among other things, Putin justified the war by saying that Russia sees itself threatened by Ukraine’s efforts to join NATO.
