The future of children born in the occupied Crimea is of serious concern due to the constant policy of assimilation and the influence of Russian propaganda. The formation of false historiography has always been an important element of Russia’s colonial policy, which sought to erase the national memory of subjugated peoples and force them to assimilate. This policy continues today as the Russian occupation authorities try to gain the support of children both in the occupied Crimea and other temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.
Children are forced to believe in a false history where Russia is constantly ‘saving’ Ukraine and that Crimea historically belongs to Russia. Because of this, new generations grow up in a distorted information environment, which significantly affects their worldview and understanding of their own identity.
Eskender Bariiev, Chairman of the Board of the Crimean Tatar Resource Center, member of Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people, noted in an interview with Radio NV: ‘Over the past 10 years we have witnessed the continuation of Russia’s colonial policy in the occupied Crimea. During this time, more than 600,000 Russian citizens have been brought to Crimea, and with the help of propaganda, Russia has significantly influenced the social psychology of the residents, especially the younger generation, who were born during the war or shortly before and are starting their conscious life in the territory of the occupied Crimea.’
‘A key challenge after the deoccupation of Crimea will be the process of reintegration of young people brought up under total propaganda. One of the important steps will be the accounting of all persons who lived on the territory of Crimea during the occupation in order to determine who lived there legally and who settled there illegally during the occupation regime,’ -Bariiev added.
Overall, this process is not easy and requires a lot of resources. Right now, the main aspect is the liberation of Crimea, but work should also be done on a future plan for youth development there.