The Power Within: The Kyiv Independent’s first-ever magazine. Be among the first to get it.

pre-order now
Skip to content
Edit post

UK Defense Ministry: Russian universities instructed not to talk about negative trends in country

by Igor Kossov October 29, 2023 1:45 PM 1 min read
Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with students while visiting the Moscow State University on Students' Day in Moscow on Jan. 25, 2023. (Maksim Mishin/ Sputnik/ AFP via Getty Images)
This audio is created with AI assistance

Russia's government is continuing efforts to suppress information by telling universities not to discuss problems within the country, according to the latest update from the U.K. Defense Ministry.

Russia's Education Ministry reportedly told universities not to openly discuss "negative political, economic and social trends" in Russia in the course of their academic activities.  

British intelligence believes this is an attempt to suppress criticism of the invasion of Ukraine ahead of incumbent Vladimir Putin's expected re-election bid in March 2024.  

The intelligence update said this is likely to continue making the Russian policy sphere into even more of a Kremlin-expedient echo chamber.

Ukrainian and foreign military experts have told the Kyiv Independent that political interests are the driving force behind military decisions in Ukraine, much more than sound strategic considerations.

‘I never planned to fight against Ukraine:’ Forcibly conscripted by Russia, Ukrainians await fate in POW camp
Editor’s note: The location of the prisoner of the war camp the Kyiv Independent visited is undisclosed for security reasons. The Kyiv Independent got vocal recorded agreement from the prisoners of the war to be interviewed and identified in the story. When Yevhen Kalashnikov found an opening to su…

News Feed

4:48 AM

Trump admits Russia attacked Ukraine.

"Russia attacked, but they shouldn't have let him attack," U.S. President Donald Trump said on Feb. 21, after previously blaming Ukraine for starting the war.
MORE NEWS

Editors' Picks

Enter your email to subscribe
Please, enter correct email address
Subscribe
* indicates required
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required

Subscribe

* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Explaining Ukraine with Kate Tsurkan
* indicates required
Successfuly subscribed
Thank you for signing up for this newsletter. We’ve sent you a confirmation email.