But the teachers accepted the task with “pleasure and zeal” and willingly constructed hats to protect their minds from “the transmission of Western ideas.”

After making the hats, the teachers boasted that by wearing the helmets, they felt a “purification of thoughts”, a “renewal of spirit”, a “surge of patriotism” and a “need to help the ( war) “.

A teacher can be seen in the video saying: “Making aluminum hats is not only an interesting and creative activity, but also an important patriotic act, symbolizing the desire to defend our homeland against external (Western) threats.”

“May our hats become a symbol of unity and resilience in the face of (foreign) challenges.”

Another said: “May the helmet you make with your own hands become a means of defense against external enemies of our beautiful country. »

To explain the prank, Bokhan – a former history teacher now living in exile – said: “During my career, I have led a series of powerful actions in Russian schools.

“I thought I had reached the height of absurdity – until the day I turned reality into a tin foil hat meme.”

Bokhan told teachers that “malicious NATO members are planning to physically and biologically irradiate the Russian people.”

He urged them to “learn to resist this with primitive means of protection, like a tin foil hat.”

“I still can’t believe it happened.” I am both delighted and shocked,” he said.

“Schools became institutions of brainwashing and repression, (and) I made the system work against itself.

“In the name of civil servants, I forced these educators to perform absurd tasks, elevating state propaganda to the level of absurdity.”

He added: “Russia has positioned itself as a ‘denazifying country’.