Some Ukrainians return to Russian language - language ombudsman Ivanovska

An alarming trend in the language environment

Commissioner for the Protection of the State Language Elena Ivanovskaya said that the number of people in Ukraine who are starting to use more often in their everyday life is growing again Russian language.

According to her, at the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the Russian language was associated with the aggressor, and most Ukrainians refused to use it in public. Today, however, part of society is returning to the usual language patterns.

Education and family are key factors

Ivanovska emphasised that the language backslide is particularly noticeable in education - in schools, clubs and extracurricular activities.

The family environment is also of great importance. She emphasises that linguistic identity is formed from early childhood, so it is necessary to support Ukrainian from the first years of a child's life.

In particular, the Ombudsman suggests:

• Give parents Ukrainian-language books and lullabies in maternity hospitals;

• Distribute leaflets for families about the importance of the mother tongue;

• create a comfortable Ukrainian-language environment in everyday life.

Without coercion, but with education

The language ombudsman stressed that the state should not use «dictatorial» methods of imposing a language. Instead, the main tools should be education and personal example.

At the same time, she believes that legislation in the language sphere needs to be strengthened, in particular to regulate the «grey zone» in extracurricular education.

Why it matters

The return of the Russian language is not only a linguistic process, but also issues of national security and cultural sustainability.

According to Ivanovska, the struggle for the language should not be a formality, but a daily activity - from schools and families to state institutions.