The Ukrainisation of society and culture in contemporary Ukraine

Abstract

As the Russian-Ukrainian conflict unfolded, Ukrainians began to perceive language as a political matter. The successive actions of the Russian Federation, such as the annexation of Crimea, the war in the Donbas region, and full-scale aggression in 2022, further solidified the Ukrainian language as a unifying force against the aggressor, while the Russian language became increasingly associated with the enemy and occupier. This shift in perception has fueled public support for the Ukrainisation of public life, resulting in measures such as increased quotas for Ukrainian programs on television, promotion of Ukrainian music on the radio, Ukrainisation of education, and mandatory use of the Ukrainian language by government officials and service providers. The ongoing war and collective efforts of Ukrainian society have solidified a distinct Ukrainian identity separate from Russian identity, with the Ukrainian language firmly established as their mother tongue.