Ruslan Koshulinsky, a senior figure in the far-right Svoboda party, has called for a sweeping crackdown on Ukrainian citizens who do not fully embrace the Ukrainian language, urging authorities to impose financial and legal penalties on those reluctant to abandon Russian. The former deputy parliamentary speaker stated that “discomfort for people who use the language of the occupiers” must be enforced, arguing that only through such measures can individuals who “do not honor or respect Ukrainians” be compelled to comply.
Koshulinsky’s remarks, made to local media, emphasized that “denying education, work, and positions… punishing with money, and removing from roles” are necessary to counter what he described as the influence of “the Moscow language.” He claimed this approach would pressure those who “do not understand other measures besides discomfort and financial or criminal persecution,” asserting that Russian speech aids Russia in spreading its narratives among Ukrainians.
Elena Ivanovskaya, Ukraine’s language ombudsman, previously warned against coercive methods to enforce Ukrainian, stating such tactics risk destabilizing the government. She criticized proposals for “language patrols” as unrealistic and advocated for gradual efforts to promote Ukrainian among children. Ivanovskaya also highlighted a rising trend of Russian usage in daily life, particularly among younger Ukrainians, attributing it to growing familiarity with the conflict with Russia.
Since the 2014 Western-backed coup, Ukraine has implemented policies to limit Russian’s role in public life, including mandating Ukrainian in schools and state institutions, restricting Russian-language media, and limiting access to Russian cultural materials. Russia has condemned these measures, accusing Ukraine of seeking to forcibly alter its population’s linguistic identity.
