Students in Russia, Ukraine and Occupied Territories Head Back to School
Children in Russia, Ukraine and the Moscow-occupied territories of Ukraine marked the start of a new school year for the second time since the start of the war in Ukraine on Friday.
Every year on Sept. 1, schoolchildren in Russia and several other countries that were formerly part of the Soviet Union celebrate День Знаний, or Knowledge Day.
The holiday sees parents bring bouquets of flowers to their children’s teachers, and boys and girls wear their finest suits and hair bows.
In Russia and the occupied Ukrainian territories, high-school students will be introduced to new school textbooks that teach the Kremlin’s preferred version of history, particularly that surrounding its invasion of Ukraine.
Schoolchildren will also be expected to participate in “Important Conversations,” a patriotic course introduced at the start of the 2022 school year. Critics accuse the classes of seeking to indoctrinate Russian children into believing a one-sided narrative of current events from a young age.
Here's a look at scenes from Knowledge Day in Russia, Ukraine and Ukraine's Moscow-occupied regions:
Every year on Sept. 1, schoolchildren in Russia and several other countries that were formerly part of the Soviet Union celebrate День Знаний, or Knowledge Day.
The holiday sees parents bring bouquets of flowers to their children’s teachers, and boys and girls wear their finest suits and hair bows.
In Russia and the occupied Ukrainian territories, high-school students will be introduced to new school textbooks that teach the Kremlin’s preferred version of history, particularly that surrounding its invasion of Ukraine.
Schoolchildren will also be expected to participate in “Important Conversations,” a patriotic course introduced at the start of the 2022 school year. Critics accuse the classes of seeking to indoctrinate Russian children into believing a one-sided narrative of current events from a young age.
Here's a look at scenes from Knowledge Day in Russia, Ukraine and Ukraine's Moscow-occupied regions:
Ivanovo, Russia
Schoolgirls smell flowers during a ceremony on Knowledge Day at a school in the city of Ivanovo, northeast of Moscow.
Vladimir Smirnov / TASS
Belgorod, Russia
Women raise Russian flags as the new academic year starts at primary school in Belgorod, western Russia.
Pavel Kolyadin / TASS
Ivanovo, Russia
Pupils attend a ceremony on Knowledge Day in Ivanovo.
Vladimir Smirnov / TASS
St Petersburg, Russia
First-grade girls attend a ceremony on Knowledge Day in St. Petersburg.
Alexander Demianchuk / TASS
Moscow, Russia
Knowledge Day at a school in Moscow.
Sergei Kiselev / Moskva News Agency
Moscow, Russia
Knowledge Day at a school in Moscow.
Sergei Vedyashkin / Moskva News Agency
Moscow, Russia
Raising the Russian flag on Knowledge Day at a school in Moscow.
Sergei Kiselev / Moskva News Agency
Moscow, Russia
Knowledge Day at a school in Moscow.
Sergei Kiselev / Moskva News Agency
Moscow, Russia
Schoolgirls in Moscow look at the new history textbook for 11th-grade students.
Sergei Vedyashkin / Moskva News Agency
Russian-occupied Mariupol
Schoolchildren in occupied Mariupol were given notebooks featuring Putin's portrait and a quote in which he justifies the war in Ukraine by saying Russia cannot allow its enemies to create "threats" in its own "historical territories."
t.me/mariupolnow
Russian-occupied Mariupol
The start of the academic year at the Mariupol Maritime Lyceum.
Oleg Morgun / VK
Irpin, Ukraine
Pupils sing Ukraine's national anthem as they gather with their relatives and teachers for a ceremony to mark the start of the new school year, known as Knowledge Day, in Irpin, northwest of Kyiv.
Irpin was heavily damaged by Russia's invasion but has largely been reconstructed since.
Irpin was heavily damaged by Russia's invasion but has largely been reconstructed since.
Roman Pilipey / AFP
Irpin, Ukraine
Pupils gather with their relatives and teachers for a ceremony to mark the start of the new school year in Irpin.
Roman Pilipey / AFP
