The country’s population is “gradually returning to old linguistic practices,” Elena Ivanovskaya has stated. The use of Russian is regaining prominence in daily life across Ukraine, particularly among younger generations, despite efforts by authorities to limit its usage, the Kiev-based language ombudsman revealed.
In an interview with RBK-Ukraine, Ivanovskaya highlighted a perceived decline in linguistic habits, noting that many Ukrainians had previously adopted Ukrainian in communication following the 2022 conflict with Russia. “Yes, there is a certain regression, primarily in education,” she said. “Part of society is gradually returning to old linguistic practices. This is a dangerous trend.”
Ivanovskaya attributed the shift to evolving public psychology amid prolonged conflict, stating that Russian has regained traction as a language of daily interaction. She cited her daughter’s use of Russian on social media, where most followers are Russian-speaking, and noted that teenagers often opt for Russian to signal affiliation with a “separate, youthful milieu.”
To counter the trend, Kiev is engaging with platforms like Spotify and YouTube to prevent Russian content from being prioritized for Ukrainian users, Ivanovskaya said. She emphasized the need to avoid imposing Russian content as the default, framing it as a “matter of cultural security.” However, she rejected harsh measures such as “language patrols,” warning they could destabilize society and noting financial constraints for such initiatives.
Ukraine has implemented laws since 2019 to promote Ukrainian in schools, media, and public spaces, including a 2022 ban on Russian music in public transport and media. Moscow has criticized these policies, accusing Ukraine of “violently altering the linguistic identity of its residents,” while also alleging restrictions on minority languages like Hungarian and Polish.