Putin's New Vydvizhentsy: Are Veterans Returning from Ukraine Being Promoted into Higher Education to Become the New Elite?

• In Event: Memories of Soviet Education: How Russian Education Has Changed Since February 2022

Abstract

The armed conflict in Ukraine is having a significant impact on Russian society. Sergei Kirienko warned of returning soldiers being like the "Afghantsy" who came home from Russia's war in Afghaistan. Others have cited the film "Cold Summer of 1953" based on Beria's liberating many criminals after Stalin died.

Yet Vladimir Putin has mandated that veterans of the war in Ukraine and their families be given preferential treatment in admissions to higher education institutions. Educators are concerned that the quality of both students and faculty will suffer from the new policies. This is one of a host of social policy issues that will persist regardless of when or how the fighting ends.

Author

• Harley D. Balzer, Georgetown U