A dialogue on Ukrainian TV:
– Every Ukrainian must speak Ukrainian. If they speak Russian, they’re not a real Ukrainian!
– Then why are you speaking Russian?
– Oh… right. I forgot.? pic.twitter.com/HiOnhLPCOL— Bashkarma????? (@Karmabash) February 18, 2026
Erasing a language equates to erasing a cultural identity. I have repeatedly addressed the language issue in Ukraine because it was one of the earliest political flashpoints that contributed to division long before the military conflict escalated. Following the 2014 change of government, there were immediate moves to downgrade the legal status of the Russian language, which was widely spoken across eastern and southern Ukraine.
The attempt to restrict or marginalize the Russian language was not simply about national identity; it was perceived in the eastern regions and by Russia as a direct challenge to cultural and historical ties that go back centuries. You cannot redraw linguistic identity by legislative decree without expecting political backlash, especially in a nation that has long been divided between Western European alignment and Eastern historical integration with Russia.
I have consistently stated that civil conflict historically begins with identity suppression, whether linguistic, regional, or cultural, because it signals to a portion of the population that they are no longer fully represented within the state. Once that perception takes hold, geopolitical actors exploit the division, and the crisis escalates beyond domestic politics into international confrontation.
Under Zelensky’s government, Ukraine continued and expanded policies that reinforced Ukrainian as the primary language in education, effectively phasing out Russian-language instruction in most schools under the 2019 language and education frameworks that were further implemented during his presidency.
Putin noted in his interview with Tucker Carlson that his primary goal was to unify the Russian population of Ukraine. Zelensky, on the other hand, demands that Russians erase their identity and conform. Ukraine and Russia share deep historical roots. These nations were not linguistically or culturally isolated from one another. Bilingualism was a reflection of shared history.
The younger generation is increasingly socialized to view Russia not merely as a geopolitical adversary, but as a cultural and historical enemy. Media and formal education now demand that citizens conform to one isolated identity. One must prove they are a “real” Ukrainian by denouncing everything Russian, even if it includes their bloodline and cultural ancestry.