Russian schoolchildren are being subjected to “ideological indoctrination” as Vladimir Putin’s regime tries to boost support for the war in Ukraine, according to UK intelligence.

The country’s education system is becoming “increasingly politicised, militarised and ideologically driven”, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said.

Moscow has suffered more than 920,000 casualties since the conflict began with Russia’s invasion of its neighbour in February, 2022.

But according to the MoD’s latest update on the war, the Putin regime is going to extraordinary lengths to ensure Russian youngsters remain willing to join the military.

In a post on X, they said independent Russian media are reporting that schools are increasingly using “pro-military” textbooks supporting the war and attacking the West.

Russian authorities have even ordered the removal of the word “Ukraine” from some textbooks.

“The Russian state highly likely seeks to use the education system to develop a more militarised, nationalistic society,” the MoD said.

“The intent is almost certainly to facilitate both deeper support for Russia’s illegal war against Ukraine, and greater willingness amongst the young to join a military suffering significant casualties.

“These efforts also seek to indoctrinate Russia’s young into a rejection of the legally mandated and internationally recognised basis for Ukraine’s nationhood and sovereignty.

“It is likely that the politicisation and militarisation of Russian education, coupled with increasing ideological indoctrination of Russian children and young people more broadly, will perpetuate aggressive, expansionist Russian nationalism in the longer term.”

The warning came after Donald Trump said he believed a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia could be struck as soon as this week.

Meanwhile, Keir Starmer told Volodymyr Zelenskyy that the UK’s support for Ukraine remains “iron clad” as the pair spoke on the phone on Monday.

A Downing Street spokesperson said: “He said that the UK supports Ukraine’s calls for Russia to commit to a full ceasefire and that now is the time for Putin to show he is serious about ending his brutal war.”