The linguistic situation in Ukraine has long been complex and multifaceted. During the Soviet era, Ukrainian existed formally but its functioning was marginalized. Despite the presence of Ukrainian schools and writers, the language was often forced to yield to the dominance of Russian, especially in cities. Repressions against national minorities and the closure of schools in minority languages further deepened this marginalization.
The Bolshevik regime in Ukraine formally involved Ukrainian and other national forces, but in reality implemented Russification policies inherited from the Russian Empire. This led to a language-based inferiority complex among many Ukrainians, a phenomenon that partly persists to this day.
Despite prolonged Russification, there was hidden resistance within society, manifesting in daily life, education, and culture. After 1991, language policy became a matter of state-building. Ukrainian has expanded its use in youth and public spaces, especially following the 2022 full-scale Russian invasion.
Legislative changes and broadcast quotas encouraged the growth of Ukrainian-language culture, pushing show business and high culture to refocus on Ukrainian audiences. The emergence of new language etiquette and institutional support is helping to restore Ukraine’s linguistic identity.