Kyrylo Budanov to pay fine for using Russian language

Kyrylo Budanov, head of the Ukrainian President’s Office, has acknowledged violating the state language law and will pay a statutory fine. The decision follows an incident in Petropavlivska Borščahivka near Kyiv on November 2, where Budanov was filmed speaking Russian while attempting to calm a crowd.

The unrest occurred near a National Guard facility used as temporary housing for mobilized soldiers. Protesters had gathered following allegations of illegal detention and mistreatment of personnel. Budanov reportedly used Russian while speaking to a 14-year-old boy and during phone conversations with the boy's sister.

Olena Ivanovská, the commissioner for the protection of the state language, stated that legal procedures have been initiated and that Budanov admitted the violation without seeking justification. The fine for a first-time offense is expected to range between 3,400 and 8,500 hryvnias.