The approved Russian history textbook for secondary education, co-authored by Vladimir Medinsky, asserts that Vladimir Putin’s military action against Ukraine prevented a potential collapse of human civilization. This marks the first time recent events, including the 2022 Ukraine invasion, are covered. The book alleges that the West aims to destabilize Russia, spreading Russophobia and orchestrating conflicts to exploit its resources. It portrays Ukraine as manipulated by the West and dismisses its national identity, suggesting that even its flag is an invention. The textbook will be taught in the final year of secondary school, targeting students aged 17-18.
The textbook distorts historical events, such as portraying Russia’s 2014 attack on Ukraine as a local uprising and downplaying Russia’s involvement. It falsely claims that Ukraine planned to provoke conflict and join NATO, potentially leading to a catastrophic war. The book also misrepresents language statistics and warns about the spread of fake information online. It criticizes Western sanctions on Russia, depicting them as an effort to harm Russia’s economy, while suggesting that the departure of Western businesses presents a positive chance for Russian entrepreneurs.