Russian Soldiers 'Afraid' Teachers Are Conducting Ukrainian Curriculum-Based Online Classes, Confiscate Electronics

KEY POINTS

The Russian forces fear teachers are following the Ukrainian curriculum
Only 10 of the 22 schools are open in the Melitopol area
Melitopol has been under Russian control since March

Russian soldiers have reportedly raided the homes of several teachers in Melitopol in Ukraine's southern Zaporizhzhia Oblast, fearing they were conducting online classes in accordance with the Ukrainian curriculum.

Melitopol Mayor Ivan Fedorov said on Feb. 5 the occupiers have confiscated the teachers' electronic devices to stop them from teaching remotely.

"(The Russians) are afraid that those who are in the occupied territory are conducting online lessons according to the Ukrainian curriculum. They force our educators to come to captured schools and teach children according to the Russian curriculum," Fedorov said.

Only 10 of the 22 schools are open in the Melitopol area, and fewer than 300 teachers out of the total 2,900 employees in the education department have agreed to work, according to the Russian forces. The mayor said none of the directors of any school or kindergarten agreed to cooperate with the Russian forces.

Melitopol has been under Russian control since March following Vladimir Putin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Since taking over Melitopol and other areas, Russia launched an aggressive campaign to get rid of anything closely associated with Ukraine, including its culture and historical markers.

Russia also renamed 86 streets--originally named after prominent Ukrainian persons--to those of Russian and Soviet figures, according to Fedorov. A monument dedicated to the famous Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko was also dismantled.

As the war continued into its 12th month, an unnamed adviser to the Armed Forces of Ukraine told the Financial Times that Russia plans to launch a new large-scale offensive within the next 10 days.

Kyiv has obtained "very solid intelligence of intent" from Russia to launch a new attack, the adviser said, according to Pravda.

The renewed attack will be carried out by Russia's elite units.

"These are proper mechanized brigades even if they are less capable than they were at the beginning of the war. They've reinforced the VDV [airborne] and marine units. These are not bus drivers and schoolteachers," he said.

Meanwhile, Serhii Haidai, the head of Luhansk Oblast Military Administration, said Russians were "partially hiding somewhere in the forest, partly burying, and also building more fortifications from where they will try to launch an offensive."

However, International Business Times could not verify the claims of renewed attack.