Russian universities will teach the goals of Russia’s so-called “special military operation” in Ukraine from September 1, Russian state media TASS reported on Friday, citing the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Russia, reports CNN.

War in Ukraine: Bakhmut, a destroyed cityPhoto: AA/ABACA / Abaca Press / Profimedia

Moscow has largely avoided describing the conflict as an invasion or war, insisting it is a “special military operation”.

As TASS reports, the new curriculum for universities includes the origins of “the special military operation in Ukraine, sanctions, the pressure of Western countries on Russia, attempts to isolate it from the rest of the world,” as well as “the goals of the military special operation. Union of Russia with the Donetsk People’s Republic, Luhansk People’s Republic, Zaporizhzhia Region, Kherson Region”.

The document posted on the website of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Russia outlines such topics as “the refusal of the USA, NATO and the EU to discuss threats to Russia’s national security, armed provocations in Donbas, armed provocations and Ukraine’s preparation to seize the forced annexation of the Donbas republics, official recognition by Russia LPR and DPR,” TASS reports.