In Bashkortostan, educational institutions held an event marking the deaths of 8,000 residents from the region killed in the war in Ukraine. The reaction was so sharp that many institutions began removing their posts.
Preschools, schools, colleges and other institutions in the Russian republic took part in a campaign called “8,000 Heroes,” dedicated to local residents who died in the war. Teachers and students visited memorials, held “remembrance lessons,” and recorded videos with children holding flags and placards. Videos and posts appeared from municipal institutions in Sterlitamak and other cities. After a public outcry, the posts were swiftly deleted. Critics said the figure underscores the scale of losses rarely discussed publicly in Russia.
The numbers in context:
- In the Soviet-Afghan war (1979–1989), about 11,500 residents of Bashkortostan served; 341 were killed.
- In the First and Second Chechen wars, 446 service members from Bashkortostan were killed. Combined total: 787.
- Today, in the war in Ukraine alone, about 8,000 people from Bashkortostan have been killed, according to the republic’s own data - nearly nine times more than in the two previous major wars combined. Critics say that while Moscow may view this as “just statistics,” for the region it amounts to a demographic blow and a generational tragedy.
One of the main sources of anger was the involvement of preschoolers under slogans linked to Russia’s “special military operation.” Videos showing small children with signs reading “In honor of fallen Bashkir heroes” in front of a memorial sparked criticism from those who said the scenes blurred the line between remembrance and political messaging. The subsequent deletions suggested even officials recognized how inappropriate and cynical it appeared, critics argued.
