Published: December 19, 2024 9:42 pm
Author: RT
Taras Kremen warns of declining use of the national language among students and online
Ukraine is facing a slowdown in carrying out its language policy, Taras Kremen, the country’s language commissioner, has said. Posting on his official website, Kremen raised concerns about the declining use of the Ukrainian language in public life, especially among the younger generation.
“Unfortunately, this year has shown signs of a slowdown in Ukrainization,” Kremen said. According to him, only 37% of students speak Ukrainian with friends, and just 39% use it at home. He also noted a 10% drop in students preferring Ukrainian online.
Kremen proposed several measures to address these challenges and strengthen the state language policy. He called for the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications to form a specialized unit to oversee language policy. Additionally, he urged for staffing increases at the National Commission on State Language Standards, which monitors compliance with the law.
The state language law, which has been in effect since 2019, significantly impacts the use of Russian, which 29.6% of Ukrainians identified as their native language in the last and only census, conducted in 2001. Under the law, Russian has been systematically phased out of schools, media, and official communications. Businesses and public institutions face fines for failing to conduct operations in Ukrainian.
Since 2021, the authorities have enforced stricter penalties for violations. Starting this year, public disrespect or humiliation of the Ukrainian language now carries additional penalties, effectively silencing efforts to restore Russian or promote multilingualism. The law equates any such attempts with actions aimed at overthrowing the constitutional order.
The language policy also affects Hungarian-speaking communities in western Ukraine’s Zakarpattia Region, where local leaders argue it threatens their cultural identity. Schools and media serving the Hungarian minority face mounting pressure to prioritize Ukrainian, fueling tensions between Kiev and Budapest. Hungary has repeatedly protested the policy internationally, urging Kiev to respect minority language rights.
