The Mayor of Ivano-Frankivsk Ruslan Marcinkiv urged Ukrainians to switch to the Ukrainian language to avoid problems with Russia, which uses the language issue in its propaganda.
«The enemy will always say: «How are they different from us? They speak Russian, read Pushkin, attend the Russian church. They are the same, one people, only their brains are washed». It is very easy to say this, and the enemy does say it», – he emphasized.
Marcinkiv also noted that the authorities should work more actively on the Ukrainization of the population, and legislation should support the Ukrainian language, not just punish for its non-use.
In his message to Ukrainians, the mayor asked whether children should be punished for communicating in Russian, emphasizing the importance of defending the Ukrainian language in the country.
Polls have shown that the number of Ukrainians who believe that the Russian language should not be taught in Ukrainian schools is increasing, although fewer people believe that its study is still necessary.
Ukrainians actively discuss the mayor's calls to switch to the Ukrainian language and measures for the Ukrainization of the population, as well as restrictions on the study of the Russian language in schools. This indicates a gradual strengthening of domestic linguistic identity among Ukrainians and a growing awareness of the importance of language policy in the context of geopolitical challenges. The population shows interest in supporting the Ukrainian language and culture as fundamental elements of national self-determination and the preservation of the state's sovereignty.