Ukrainian Language Ousts Russian from Theaters and Books for the First Time: Ombudsperson’s Report

2025 Report on the State of the Ukrainian Language

According to Главком: Language ombudsperson Olena Ivanovska has released her 2025 report on the status of the Ukrainian language. The findings show a notable decline in Russian-language content across theaters, book publishing, and media throughout the country.

Russian-language performances have all but vanished from theater repertoires, giving way to the living Ukrainian word.

Olena Ivanovska

In the theater sector, Russian-language productions have nearly disappeared. However, Kyiv still hosts the Temnyi Sofit theater, which continues to use a non-state language in its programming. In book publishing, the legal quota requiring that at least half of all books be printed in the state language has been met for the first time. Meanwhile, Ukrainian has become the standard language in media, and Russian-language music has been removed from broadcasts.

Enforcement of Language Legislation

Oversight of language law compliance has intensified. In 2025, the number of inspections rose by 32%, and the number of initiated cases increased by 63%. A total of 706 administrative rulings were issued, with 404 resulting in warnings and 95 cases leading to fines. The ombudsperson received 2,888 citizen complaints, 49.4% of which concerned the service sector. The highest number of complaints came from Kyiv, Odesa, Kharkiv, and Dnipropetrovsk regions.

Funding for the language program in 2025 amounted to 323 million hryvnias, while the actual need exceeded 1.8 billion hryvnias. Approximately 310 million hryvnias came from the state budget, but no international technical assistance was provided. As a result, despite certain positive outcomes in protecting the state language, significant challenges remain due to insufficient program funding.

Olena Ivanovska’s report highlights major strides in promoting the Ukrainian language across various sectors, but the growing financial demands underscore the need for greater support from both the government and international partners. As Russian-language content shrinks and Ukrainian-language production expands, securing adequate resources is crucial for the continued development of Ukraine’s language policy.

While the report highlights the impressive strides made in promoting the Ukrainian language, concerns remain regarding its usage among the younger generation. Alarmingly, a recent study reveals that a significant percentage of students in Kyiv continue to speak Russian during breaks. This raises questions about the effectiveness of current language policies and the need for further initiatives to ensure the preservation and growth of the Ukrainian language in everyday life.