Russian students have reportedly been penalised for refusing to write letters to soldiers involved in Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, according to the Yekaterinburg-based media outlet It’s My City. 

In Yekaterinburg, students were instructed to create New Year’s greetings for soldiers, with those declining allegedly receiving failing grades in two subjects. This occurred despite official claims that participation in such initiatives is voluntary.

Two classes – “Fundamentals of Spiritual and Moral Culture of Peoples of Russia” and “Fine Arts” – were cancelled to accommodate the activity. Students who refused to take part were reportedly assigned failing marks in both subjects. While local authorities in Yekaterinburg confirmed the existence of the campaign, which they described as “patriotic,” they maintained that participation was optional and should not disrupt normal class schedules, It’s My City reported.

Patriotic campaigns targeting schoolchildren have intensified since the launch of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, termed a “special military operation” by the Kremlin. In St Petersburg, for instance, the “Field Mail” campaign encourages students to send anonymous letters, drawings and handmade gifts to soldiers on the front lines. Similar projects have been implemented across Russian regions and in occupied Ukrainian territories, including Mariupol.

Starting in 2024, Russia’s Ministry of Education has introduced significant changes to the national curriculum, with a strong focus on military and ideological training. The new “Fundamentals of Homeland Security and Defence” class includes lessons on military discipline, weapons handling and combat readiness, covering the use of firearms such as Kalashnikov assault rifles and Dragunov sniper rifles, as well as tactical exercises. The revised curriculum integrates patriotic and security-related themes across various subjects, emphasising national defence and moral education.

Media reports suggest that some students are also being involved in wartime-related activities under the guise of extracurricular programmes. In Rostov-on-Don, for example, students have participated in crafting camouflage nets, while schools in Krasnoyarsk have organised sewing uniforms for soldiers. Other schools have reportedly engaged students in assembling components for munitions.