ENG
9678 visitors online
The Russian language remains a contentious issue in Ukraine and beyond, as recent legislative and cultural developments illustrate. The 2012 "Kivalov-Kolesnichenko language law" allowed Russian to gain regional language status, sparking debate about its place in Ukraine. Calls to curtail Russian use in educational and public domains reveal efforts to strengthen Ukrainian identity. In Kyiv, law enforcement actions against those promoting Russian culture show societal sensitivities. Beyond Ukraine, nations like Latvia reconsider Russian's role in schools, aligning with broader regional discontent. Understanding these dynamics is vital for comprehending global geopolitical impacts.
What was the Kivalov-Kolesnichenko language law?
The Kivalov-Kolesnichenko language law, enacted in Ukraine in 2012, granted Russian the status of a regional language. It allowed areas with a significant Russian-speaking population to use Russian in public administration, sparking debates over its implications for national identity and language policy.
Why are Ukrainian authorities cracking down on Russian language use?
Ukrainian authorities are increasingly restricting Russian language use to bolster national identity and distance the country from Russian influence. This reaction is part of a broader strategy to solidify Ukrainian culture, especially in the context of ongoing geopolitical tensions with Russia.
How has Russian language policy changed in Latvia?
Latvia is phasing out Russian as a second foreign language in its schools, reflecting a shift towards promoting Latvian and other non-Russian languages. This change aims to reduce Russian influence and reinforce national identity within its education system.
What societal reactions has the use of Russian language elicited in Ukraine?
In Ukraine, the use of Russian language has led to varied societal reactions, including administrative sanctions, public backlash, and legal action against individuals and groups promoting Russian culture. These responses highlight the sensitive nature of language as a cultural and political issue.
What role does language play in the Russia-Ukraine conflict?
Language plays a critical role in the Russia-Ukraine conflict as Russia often cites the protection of Russian speakers as a justification for its actions in Ukraine. Conversely, Ukraine perceives the promotion of its national language as essential to sovereignty and cultural independence.
How does the EU influence language policies in Ukraine?
The European Union influences language policies in Ukraine by encouraging laws that promote minority language rights while supporting Ukraine's efforts to strengthen its national language. This aligns with EU cultural values and the broader goal of Ukrainian integration into European structures.
What implications does language policy have for Ukrainian refugees?
Language policy significantly impacts Ukrainian refugees, who may face challenges abroad if forced to learn Russian, as seen in recent incidents in the UK. Language choices can affect their cultural integration and identity while living outside of Ukraine.
How do language dynamics impact education in Ukraine?
In Ukraine, language dynamics profoundly affect education as schools navigate between promoting Ukrainian and accommodating regional preferences for Russian. This balance is crucial for maintaining cultural heritage while adapting to modern geopolitical realities.
TOP news Russian
Zelenskyi sees no problem with special status of Russian language in Donbas Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi has said he sees no problem as for the special status of the Russian language in Donbas and local residents should be given an opportunity to speak and fill out documents in Russian. 54 896 984 Previously in trend: Language Issue
Over Half of Ukrainians are Against Russian Being Official Language, Poll Shows More than half of Ukrainians are against granting official status to the Russian language, as the data of sociological study conducted in fall shows. 13 234 955 Previously in trend: Language Issue
"There should be no Russian language," – Ukraine’s Infrastructure Minister calls to get rid of "Soviet heritage" in Ukrainian airports Ukrainian airports need to get rid of the Russian language and communist era names. 98 569 837
Putin's desire to protect Russian speakers in Ukraine resulted in putting the brunt of the fighting on them, - Obama Ironically, one of the rationales that Putin provided for his incursions into Ukraine was to protect Russian speakers there. Russian speakers in Ukraine are precisely the ones who are bearing the brunt of the fighting. 49 054 521 Previously in trend: Russian aggression against Ukraine
"Poroshenko banned Russian language in schools", - Russian media react to new Ukraine Education Act Russian propagandists are certain that in Ukraine, Russian language is being attacked. 138 060 443 Previously in trend: Education Act
"Ukrainian coupists themselves violated Budapest Protocol provisions," – Russia’s Lavrov Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accused "Ukrainian coupists" of violating the Budapest Memorandum. 132 645 403 Previously in trend: Russian aggression against Ukraine Occupation of Crimea
Russia aims to "liberate Ukraine" and "protect" Russian-speaking citizens – Lavrov Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has claimed that Russia cannot allow the "rights of Russian-speaking citizens" in Ukraine to be restricted, particularly after any potential cessation of hostilities. 24 331 340 Previously in trend: Language Issue Russia’s demands to end war
MP Boiko makes statement about "radicals who rename cities and demolish monuments" and stands up for Russian language. VIDEO MP Yurii Boiko, who heads the "Platform for Life and Peace", posted a video on social media in which he spoke about "radicals" who "rename cities and demolish monuments". 32 553 337
World-wide Russian-language channel to be created in Ukraine to 'struggle for minds' A world-wide Russian-language channel will be created in Ukraine to strengthen the position of the state in the informational struggle, said Deputy Head of the Presidential Office of Ukraine Kyrylo Tymoshenko. 14 743 315
Leader of Servant of the People party Razumkov: I will speak Russian as long as Donbas and Crimea are occupied The Chairman of the party added that state language topic is crucial right now, Ukrainian language should be protected and developed, but this question is not a priority. 19 728 314 Previously in trend: Occupied territories - Crimea and Donbas
"I’ll teach you how to speak, you scum": in Kyiv, Bolt driver forced activist out of car after she commented on his use of Russian In Kyiv, a Bolt driver forced an activist out of the car and then grabbed her by the face after she insisted he speak Ukrainian, as required by Ukrainian law. The woman has filed a report with the police. 38 920 267 Previously in trend: Language conflict
US State Department: "There’s nowhere in the world more dangerous for Russian speakers right now than in eastern Ukraine" This has been one of the most violent weeks of the year. Five Ukrainian soldiers are now dead and 23 have been wounded. 55 945 253 Previously in trend: Russian aggression against Ukraine
Some Ukrainians are reverting to Russian. It is dangerous trend, says Language Ombudsman Ivanovska Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, part of Ukrainian society has gradually been reverting to old language practices, the Russian language, which poses a dangerous trend. 9 345 241 Previously in trend: Language Issue Language Ombudsman
Putin does not accept any red lines and can annex other countries under pretense of alleged discrimination of Russians, - Poroshenko Ukraine’s President Petro Poroshenko believes that Russia can annex other countries under the pretense of the alleged discrimination of Russian minorities. 30 687 216 Previously in trend: Russian aggression against Ukraine
Ministry of Education supports draft law banning communication in Russian during school breaks - Lisovyi The Ministry of Education and Science has supported a legislative initiative to ban the use of Russian during school breaks. 6 578 214
Protecting interests of Russian-speaking residents of Ukraine should be one of results of "SMO" - Putin The result of the so-called special operation is supposed to be long-term peace and protection of the interests of Russian-speaking residents of Ukraine. 13 618 192 Previously in trend: Putin’s demands regarding war in Ukraine Putin on the outcome of the war
Three Kyiv women sing "I love you, Moscow" and flaunt it on social media, police say. VIDEO&PHOTOS. VIDEO&PHOTOS Kyiv law enforcement officers have held three girls administratively liable after they drove around in a car, listened to Russian songs, and sang along to hostile performers. 23 335 191 Previously in trend: Ban on Russian music in Ukraine
Russian no longer protected language in Ukraine: Rada removes it from text of European Charter on Languages The Verkhovna Rada has removed the Russian language from the text of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. 14 926 176 Previously in trend: Language Issue
Quarrel over Russian music ends in murder: two brothers are served suspicion notices in Kyiv - Prosecutor’s Office. PHOTO Two brothers, aged 21 and 22, are suspected of the premeditated murder of an acquaintance due to a conflict that arose during a feast over listening to Russian music. 15 805 176 Previously in trend: Murder of man in Kyiv
DPRK "heroes of smo" raped teacher of Peoples’ Friendship University who came to Kursk region to teach them Russian. VIDEO North Korean mercenaries raped a 28-year-old teacher at the Russian University of Peoples' Friendship, who had come to Kursk to teach them Russian. 55 485 158 Previously in trend: War
"Servant of People" Buzhanskyi congratulates ’brothers’ on ’Victory Day’ in Russian Servant of the People People`s Deputy Maksym Buzhanskyi published a post in Russian on May 9. 16 752 130 Previously in trend: 9th May in Ukraine
Court Overturns Decision Of Dnipropetrovsk Regional Council On Regional Status Of Russian Language The Dnipropetrovsk Regional Administrative Court satisfied the claim to declare illegal and invalid the decision of the Dnipropetrovsk Regional Council to grant regional status to the Russian language. 9 238 119
Russian language was excluded from public school curriculum in Kyiv According to a draft decision, organizational and legal actions aimed at transition of groups and classes from Russian to Ukrainian are to be taken. 6 031 108
"We need to steamroll law on Russian language, can pay one grand extra," - SBU wiretaps conversations of intermediaries using Russian money for bribing Ukrainian politicians. VIDEO The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) published wiretapped talks between members of the group mediators involved in bribing Ukrainian politicians using Russian money. 102 483 108 Previously in trend: Russian aggression against Ukraine
Ukrainian refugee forced to leave British college after refusing to study Russian, - Guardian A scandal has erupted in the United Kingdom over a Ukrainian refugee who was forced to leave college after refusing to study Russian. 14 206 99 Previously in trend: Ukrainian refugees
Estonia may lose Russian-speaking north-eastern region in case of conflict with Russia, - experts In the case of an armed conflict with Russia, the Estonian government may lose control of the Ida-Viru County in the country’s north-east, where the Russian-speaking population prevails. 31 259 98
Dancing to Russian chanson on Alley of Heroes: in Chernihiv, identities of girls are being established, - National Police. VIDEO In Chernihiv, girls were dancing to Russian chanson on the Alley of Heroes. 10 911 91 Previously in trend: Ban on Russian music in Ukraine Incidents on Heroes’ Alley
Ukrainian girl forced to sing "Kalinka" in Finnish school: mother outraged. VIDEO The mother of an 11-year-old Ukrainian girl, Iryna Horkun-Silen, said that her daughter was forced to sing in Russian at a Finnish school during a music lesson. 11 750 86 Previously in trend: Russification of Ukrainians Ukrainians in Finland
Cabinet of Ministers proposes to exclude Russian and Belarusian from list of languages to be protected in Ukraine The Cabinet of Ministers has approved a draft law that provides for an update of the list of languages to which the regime of support and special protection will apply. 1 842 81
82% of Russian-speaking Ukrainians have negative attitude towards Russia - poll 82% of Ukrainians who speak mostly Russian in everyday life express a negative attitude toward Russia, and 81.5% trust the Armed Forces of Ukraine. 2 805 81 Previously in trend: Poll on war in Ukraine
Occupiers brought teachers of Russian language and literature from Tyumen to Luhansk region, - National Resistance Center The Russians continue to bring teachers from the Russian Federation to the temporarily occupied territories to "brainwash" Ukrainian children. 3 061 75
Dnipro introduces moratorium on public Russian-language content The city of Dnipro has introduced a moratorium on the public use of Russian-language cultural products. 3 042 69 Previously in trend: Language Issue Language Ombudsman
Referee in Women’s Premier League match shows yellow card to player for speaking Russian: "We don’t speak Russian here. This is Ukrainian championship.". VIDEO During a football match between the women's teams "Kolos" (Kovalivka) and "Sisters" (Odesa), referee Anastasia Romaniuk showed a yellow card to the Odesa player Iryna Maiborodina for speaking Russian. 8 497 66
Girl sang Russian song on Alley of Remembrance of Fallen Heroes in Pryluky: police launch investigation Police in the city of Pryluky, Chernihiv region, have launched an investigation into a video of a girl singing in Russian on the Alley of Memory of the Fallen Ukrainian Military. 6 704 65 Previously in trend: Ban on Russian music in Ukraine
There will be no more Russian projects on Ukrainian territory, - Danilov The return of the occupied territories should not mean any preferences or privileges with regard to the Russian language, because, as practice shows, this does not lead to anything good. 8 989 57 Previously in trend: War
Russia funded promotion of "Kivalov-Kolesnichenko language law" in order to completely supplant Ukrainian, - Schemes Russia funded the promotion of the so-called "Kivalov-Kolesnichenko language law" of 2012, which de jure granted the Russian language the status of a regional language in Ukraine, whilst de facto bringing its status closer to that of the state language. 6 298 62 Previously in trend: Russian language in Ukraine
Russian language will no longer be taught in Latvian schools Latvia will make one of EU languages a second foreign one at schools by 2026/2027 academic year. Schoolchildren will probably no longer be able to study Russian as a second foreign language. 5 181 50
Approach to status of Russian language and UOC-MP to be determined by EU legislation, - Zelenskyy In accordance with Ukraine's future membership in the European Union, the approach to the status of the Russian language and the activities of the UOC-MP, as demanded by the Russian Federation in the peace deal, will be determined by European legislation and international law. 5 308 47 Previously in trend: Russian language in Ukraine
In office of President of Latvia Levits, Russian-language letter of MEP Zhdanok was ignored The office of Latvian President Egils Levits left the open letter of MEP Tetiana Zhdanok unanswered. In a letter written mostly in Russian, she demanded and called to explain why the website of the head of state will no longer have this language. 8 520 47
Invaders restored work of schools in occupied Volnovakha in Russian language under program of Russian Federation, - Denysova The Russian occupiers resumed the studying process in the occupied city of Volnovakha in the Donetsk region, despite the proximity of the war zone. 8 138 47 Previously in trend: War
Threatened musician with disability and demanded that he perform Russian song: 29-year-old man detained in Kyiv. VIDEO Law enforcement officers detained a 29-year-old man who demanded that a musician with a disability perform a Russian song in Pozniaky, Kyiv. 10 969 47 Previously in trend: Language conflict
Occupier on language barrier with North Koreans: "Russian does not always understand Russian. And how do you manage this non-Russian-speaking herd? It’s real hemorrhoid". VIDEO A video has been posted online in which a Russian military man describes the problems encountered with North Korean mercenaries due to the language barrier. 13 335 46 Previously in trend: War
Kremlin's main mistake is destroying Russian-speaking cities of Ukraine, - Reznikov The destruction of Russian-speaking towns in Ukraine is the Kremlin's revenge for not welcoming Russian invaders with flowers. This is a big mistake by Russia, because now the electoral preferences of these regions will be anti-Russian. 8 997 43 Previously in trend: Russian aggression against Ukraine War
They want to limit use of Russian language in Latvia Latvia can limit the use of the Russian language at work and in public places at the legislative level. 6 120 34
Latvia plans to abandon Russian as second foreign language in schools On Tuesday, 23 April, the Latvian government will decide to gradually abolish Russian as a second foreign language in schools. 3 577 27
More and more Ukrainians speak Ukrainian at home, - "Rating" survey. INFOGRAPHICS More than half of the country’s citizens now speak Ukrainian at home. This indicator has increased compared to April. 4 527 27
Russian language is no longer protected in Ukraine under European Charter: Zelenskyy has signed law On 12 June, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a law that removes the Russian language from the protection afforded by the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages in Ukraine. 10 646 84 Previously in trend: Russian language in Ukraine
Russia uses Russian language as excuse for aggression against Ukraine - Council of Europe The Council of Europe declares the inadmissibility of Russia's use of the position of the Russian language as a minority language as a pretext for aggression against Ukraine. 4 361 19 Previously in trend: War
Page 1 of 2
more top news
