Ukrainian Woman Reflects on Childhood War Indoctrination in Russian-Controlled Donbas

A Ukrainian woman has shared her memories of growing up in the Russian-controlled Donbas region, where she was taught to glorify what Russian propaganda called the "Great Patriotic War" as a child. The woman, now reflecting on old photographs from her childhood album, described how she once sat on a tank singing songs about the war, viewing such activities as completely normal at the time. She only realized years later how abnormal this indoctrination had been, recognizing that things she once considered natural were far from it. The account provides insight into how Russian occupation authorities used education and cultural activities to shape children's worldview in the breakaway territories of eastern Ukraine, which have been under Russian control since 2014.