Russian occupation authorities have launched a program aimed at recruiting Ukrainian children from the occupied territories to study in Russia. This initiative, known as the “university changes” program, seeks to attract students to Russian universities, a move that has sparked concerns about the long-term impact on Ukrainian youth. In 2024, approximately 3,700 children from the Donetsk region were taken on excursions and given consultations about attending Russian universities.
The program, under the guise of offering educational opportunities, has been promoted as a way for high school students from the temporarily occupied territories (TOT) to receive preferential treatment when applying to Russian universities. The Russian authorities promise an easier admission process for children identified as having exceptional abilities. The Centers for National Resistance (CNR) reported that, despite the promises, it remains unclear how many children have actually accepted the offer.
The “university changes” program is part of a larger effort by Russian authorities to integrate Ukrainian youth into their educational system. The goal is to align them with Russian culture and values, which includes efforts to spread the Russian language and ideology. The Russian-backed centers for promoting Russian language and culture, set up in libraries across the Donetsk region, are also part of this strategy.
These moves are seen as part of a broader attempt by the Kremlin to increase control over the occupied territories and undermine Ukrainian identity. While Russia continues to push its influence, the Ukrainian government and international community view this as an aggressive form of cultural assimilation and manipulation.
The CNR has condemned the program, calling it another example of the occupation authorities’ attempts to exert influence over the younger generation in the occupied regions. There is growing concern about the future of these children, who may be swayed by the promises of easier access to higher education in Russia.
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