Former Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko announced on May 18 that millions of Ukrainians remain unaware of and unwilling to learn the national language. In an interview with Natalia Moseychuk, Yushchenko described widespread indifference among citizens: “The indifference of millions who may not form a position, who may say, well, I don’t know the move, 40 years old, but I don’t know.”
Yushchenko emphasized that without proficiency in Ukrainian, Ukrainians cannot sustain statehood. He stated language determines national identity by two-thirds, noting the crisis disproportionately affects middle-aged citizens who view learning the language as unnecessary.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian Language Ombudsman Olena Ivanovska reported on May 9 that authorities are considering establishing a coordinating council to counteract Russian language dominance in Ukraine. Ivanovska highlighted that Russian remains the primary tool for international communication within the country’s current context.
A survey conducted via Kiev Digital on May 4 revealed stark linguistic realities: fewer than one-third of Kyiv residents communicate exclusively in Ukrainian. Only 32% use Ukrainian consistently across all settings, while 14% employ it in government offices, 13% in shops and cafes, and 11% at work.
