Ukraine language identity debate intensifies amid war

After more than four years of conflict, the choice between Russian and Ukrainian has become a contested symbol of identity and resistance in Ukraine. In cities such as Odessa and Kyiv, many citizens now favour Ukrainian as a public statement of defiance, while others continue to use Russian in private, viewing it as part of their childhood and cultural heritage.

President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a law in 2026 that removed Russian from the list of protected minority languages, though it was not banned outright. The legislation reflects the shift in public perception: Russian, once associated with social prestige, is now often seen as the language of the aggressor, while Ukrainian is embraced as a marker of national solidarity. Personal accounts illustrate the dilemma – some, like a 25‑year‑old woman from Odessa, argue that speaking Russian does not diminish their support for Ukraine, while others, such as a 27‑year‑old teacher from eastern Ukraine, describe the language as a boundary between “us” and “them.”