In Odesa, they talked about the return of the Russian language to public space

Ukraine faces a threat of the Russian language returning to the public space due to a secret bill. The expert warned of the risks of using the language issue and sanctions as a political tool.

Historian, politician and public figure Volodymyr Viatrovych spoke in an interview with Intent about several dangerous government initiatives that could affect the status of the Ukrainian language and the country's internal stability.

According to him, the current government mostly consists of people with no experience in the socio-political sphere, and decisions are made based on ratings and possible elections, rather than on the needs of the state.

Vyatrovych emphasizes that recent legislative initiatives, including the secret draft law on the Russian language, actually threaten to reduce the functioning of the Ukrainian language. According to him, the draft law, which was coordinated by Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration Taras Kachka, concerns education and provides for the use of national minority languages, including Russian, in the scientific, sports, and administrative spheres.

Vyatrovych emphasizes that Ukrainian society has repeatedly stopped attempts at Russification by using its activism and pressure on the authorities. He notes that corruption scandals, such as the Mindich case, and attempts by the authorities to put pressure on society through the Single Marathon or sanctions undermine trust, but should not be a reason for indifference: the state is more important than temporary officials.

The historian also emphasized that the bravest step for President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is to abandon his intention to run for a second term, which would allow him to make unpopular but necessary decisions for the country, including on mobilization and military issues.

According to Viatrovych, as long as society is attentive to such legislative initiatives and holds the government accountable, Ukraine will be able to defend the state language and security.

The interview also touched on media ratings and the impact of propaganda, including the role of the Single Marathon, as well as how Ukrainian society can remain united in times of war and corruption scandals.

In wartime, politics, media, and sociology are closely intertwined. Trust in the government is formed not only through its actions, but also through the way these actions are covered. Changes in the trust of Ukrainians in the state, the reliability of military polls, and the line between ethical data collection and manipulation were discussed on Intent. Insight with political scientist Oleksandra Reshmedilova and sociologist Hanna Yatvetska.

Анна Бальчінос