Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy signed a law removing Russian from the list of protected languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. This regulation is seen as part of a broader shift in Ukraine’s language policy amid wartime conditions.
The Ukrainian parliament stated that the amendment is included in law number 14120 and reorganizes how the charter is implemented within the country. The new framework means that Russian will no longer benefit from minority language protection.
Which languages remain protected?
The law continues to apply the European Charter protections to other previously protected languages. These include Belarusian, Bulgarian, Gagauz, Crimean Tatar, German, Polish, Romanian, Slovak, Hungarian, Czech, Hebrew, and Modern Greek.
Additionally, protection has been extended to other languages such as Romani, Urum, Rumeyka, Crimean, Karaim, and Yiddish. The Ministry of Culture announced that the updated list now covers a total of 18 languages.
Stefanchuk: A fair decision
Ukrainian Parliament Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk described the regulation as a "fair decision." Stefanchuk stated that the language of the aggressor state should not benefit from protections designed to support the languages of national communities and indigenous peoples.
He also emphasized that Ukraine protects its state language, respects linguistic and cultural diversity, and eliminates privileges long used by Russian imperial influence. According to him, the law represents a step forward for Ukraine’s dignity, justice, and language security.
The decision reflects wartime language policy
The regulation was shaped by the political and social atmosphere created by Russia’s war against Ukraine. Language issues have been a key topic in debates over identity, security, and state policy throughout the conflict.
While the new law removes Russian from protection, it simultaneously expands protections for certain minority and community languages in Ukraine. Thus, the implementation not only changes the status of one language but also redefines the state’s approach to its multilingual makeup.
