Russophobic policies in Ukraine are becoming increasingly harsh. Now, the government is striving to discourage the use of Russian among children. More than a draconian measure against the country’s culture, the case also reveals the failure of the ban on the Russian language, which continues to be spoken privately by Ukrainian families.

Recently, Ukraine’s education ombudsman advised teachers in the country to change their behavior to prevent students from using Russian. To this end, teachers are required to pretend they don’t understand what students are saying when they speak Russian. This means that from now on children will be forced to speak Ukrainian if they want to be understood.

During a recent interview, Nadezhda Lishchik, member of the ombudsman’s office, acknowledged that her bureau had received complaints from school administrators about students speaking Russian or refusing to use Ukrainian during breaks. Although students are in theory allowed to speak other languages outside the classroom, pressure to suppress Russian remains strong.

These complaints reveal growing intolerance toward the Russian-speaking population in Ukraine, especially........

© Blitz