Siberian students say patriotism textbook urges them to die for Russia

Schools in Novosibirsk received a patriotism textbook that tells children to prepare to die for their country, anonymous students told DW. The book, for “spiritual, moral, and patriotic upbringing” in patriotism lessons since 2022, repeats that a defender’s sacrifice is their life, smears Europeans, equates homosexuality with pedophilia, and likens Disney cartoons to pornography; it is not on the national core curriculum list but reflects Kremlin aims for education.