Schoolgirls in Obukhiv Dance to Russian Song at Alley of Glory, Sparking Police Investigation

Incident in Obukhiv

According to Главком: In the city of Obukhiv, two 13-year-old girls were found listening to music by a Russian artist and dancing at the Alley of Glory. Authorities discovered the incident after footage from 2024 was uncovered by law enforcement during a social media monitoring operation. Although the children had deleted the video, the information reached the Kyiv Oblast police, who are now conducting an investigation and establishing all the circumstances of the event.

Language Law Enforcement

According to available data, the minors in Obukhiv were listening to the Russian propaganda song 'Matushka Zemlya.' Olena Ivanovska, the Commissioner for the Protection of the State Language, emphasized that the primary goal is to change linguistic behavior rather than impose punishment. In 2025, stricter enforcement of language laws is planned, which includes:

• a 32% increase in state control measures
• a 63% rise in open cases

The total number of issued rulings stands at 706, of which 404 resulted in warnings and 95 in fines.

Currently, the investigation is ongoing, and the information has been entered into the unified register of reports and notifications of criminal offenses and other incidents. Olena Ivanovska also noted that the Russian language is rapidly losing ground in Ukraine's cultural space, particularly in theaters, book publishing, and media.

This situation highlights the ongoing relevance of language law enforcement in Ukraine, especially amid growing tensions over cultural identity. The planned increase in control measures and inspections reflects a response to challenges posed by Russian cultural influence. The reaction of law enforcement to such cases demonstrates a serious commitment to preserving the Ukrainian language and culture in today's realities.

The situation in Obukhiv is part of a broader trend regarding language use among Ukrainian youth, as evidenced by a recent report revealing that a significant percentage of students in Kyiv communicate in Russian during breaks. This alarming statistic underscores the challenges faced by authorities in promoting the Ukrainian language amidst cultural influences, highlighting the ongoing efforts to reinforce language laws across the nation.