Russian Schoolteacher Risks Everything to Expose Classroom Propaganda

In the remote Russian industrial town of Karabash, known as one of the world’s most polluted places, Pavel “Pasha” Talankin found himself fighting a solitary battle against state indoctrination following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

The former primary school events coordinator and videographer secretly recorded how Russian classrooms became vehicles for Kremlin propaganda—footage that now forms the backbone of “Mr. Nobody Against Putin,” a documentary nominated for Best Documentary at the upcoming Academy Awards.

Karabash itself presents a grim backdrop for this story. The century-old copper-smelting town was once designated an “ecological disaster zone” by Russia’s own Ministry of Environment, with residents facing an average life expectancy of just 45 years. But within this bleak landscape, Talankin’s quiet resistance took root.

“When Russia invaded Ukraine, everything changed,” explains David Borenstein, the American filmmaker based in Denmark who connected with Talankin online through a mutual acquaintance. “Pasha had been recording these propaganda classes as part of a government program for patriotic military education. He was required to upload the footage to prove these programs were being taught, but instead of deleting it afterward, he wanted to expose the brainwashing happening in Russian schools.”

The documentary reveals disturbing classroom scenes where students are told that war critics are “parasites.” In one particularly troubling segment, history teacher Pavel Abdulmanov praises the head of Stalin’s secret police as a hero. Other footage shows Wagner mercenaries demonstrating weapons to Russian schoolchildren.

“The very first footage we received showed the history teacher telling kids that French people are riding horses because there’s no more oil from Russia, and that pro-Russian protests are happening all over Europe,” Borenstein recalls. “It was fascinating and shocking to see the ideological underpinnings of this full-scale invasion play out in real time.”

For Talankin, sharing this material meant risking severe consequences. Russians who criticize the war face regular imprisonment under the country’s strict censorship laws. Their collaboration required encrypted emails and careful security protocols.

“I was probably working from a kind of fury and helplessness, wanting to do something,” Talankin explains through a translator. “I needed to show this footage to people. But I understand now how very fine a line I was walking.”

The gravity of the situation wasn’t lost on Borenstein, who worked with the BBC’s security and editorial policy teams to establish safer working methods. “There were so many sleepless nights throughout the process because I was so worried about Pasha,” Borenstein admits. “But you have to remind yourself that he is his own person. We offered him tools that made it safer, but at the end of the day, we all understood the risks.”

As the documentary progressed, Talankin realized that remaining in Russia would be impossible. Under the guise of a vacation to Turkey—his suitcase filled with hard drives rather than swimwear—he fled the country, leaving behind his mother and his hometown.

Talankin now lives in Europe and is traveling with the documentary during its Oscar campaign, an experience that places him in surreal proximity to Hollywood stars like Leonardo DiCaprio and Emma Stone—worlds away from Karabash’s industrial desolation.

“At the moment, I don’t see any hope of returning at all,” Talankin says. “If they are asking questions about me in briefings to the press secretary at the Kremlin, there is no way I could consider going back.”

Despite the personal sacrifice, Talankin finds solace in the documentary’s impact. “A lot of teachers have started to write to me, saying how they were waiting and hoping that someone would tell the world what was happening,” he explains. “They just never imagined it’d be someone from Karabash, this hole in the middle of nowhere.”

The documentary represents a rare unfiltered glimpse into how the Russian state apparatus mobilizes education to support its geopolitical narratives. Its nomination for an Academy Award has amplified international attention on these practices while highlighting the courage of those who risk everything to expose them.

“Mr. Nobody Against Putin” opens at the TIFF Lightbox in Toronto on February 13, bringing Talankin’s dangerous documentation to Western audiences seeking to understand the mechanics of modern propaganda in Putin’s Russia.