Naukovi Novyny, Vol 1, Issue 8, August 29, 2019
You speak/write/sing in Russian in Ukraine because ...
You speak/write/sing in Russian in Ukraine because ...
Natalia Zaletok
Natalia Zaletok
Senior Researcher, Sector of Technologies for Preservation of Archival Documents of the Department of Technological Support for Archival Enterprise of the Ukrainian Scientific Research Institute of Archival Enterprise and Document Studies, 03110, Kyiv, Solomianska str., 24, Ukraine
Senior Researcher, Sector of Technologies for Preservation of Archival Documents of the Department of Technological Support for Archival Enterprise of the Ukrainian Scientific Research Institute of Archival Enterprise and Document Studies, 03110, Kyiv, Solomianska str., 24, Ukraine
"And don't think of Moscovites
"And don't think of Moscovites
let them write in their own way, and we write in our own way.
let them write in their own way, and we write in our own way.
They have people and the word, and we have people and the word.
They have people and the word, and we have people and the word.
And whose is better, let people judge."
And whose is better, let people judge."
Taras Shevchenko
Taras Shevchenko
According to the Census of Ukraine (2001), 67.5% of citizens consider Ukrainian to be their mother tongue, 29.6% - Russian [1].At the same time, there is a disproportionate presence of Russian-speaking pop and television stars and other public figures in our country, whose activities are often more readily perceived by society than the activities their Ukrainian-speaking counterparts. They, in turn, may even be able to reproduce a few phrases in Ukrainian on camera or please a Ukrainian-speaking fan with a product in his or her own language. All this is often presented in the media almost as a feat [for example, see 2] .Regarding to the use of Russian in everyday life, there are many cities in Ukraine where its figure exceeds 80% (for example, Kharkiv, Odesa, Mykolaiv) [3] .All this means that the above census data is quite misleading, because when you dig deeper, it becomes clear that the use of the Ukrainian language in Ukraine is not as widespread as it might seem at first glance, since to call a language mother tongue does not always mean to use it. However, have you ever thought about the reasons behind this situation?
According to the Census of Ukraine (2001), 67.5% of citizens consider Ukrainian to be their mother tongue, 29.6% - Russian [1].At the same time, there is a disproportionate presence of Russian-speaking pop and television stars and other public figures in our country, whose activities are often more readily perceived by society than the activities their Ukrainian-speaking counterparts. They, in turn, may even be able to reproduce a few phrases in Ukrainian on camera or please a Ukrainian-speaking fan with a product in his or her own language. All this is often presented in the media almost as a feat [for example, see 2] .Regarding to the use of Russian in everyday life, there are many cities in Ukraine where its figure exceeds 80% (for example, Kharkiv, Odesa, Mykolaiv) [3] .All this means that the above census data is quite misleading, because when you dig deeper, it becomes clear that the use of the Ukrainian language in Ukraine is not as widespread as it might seem at first glance, since to call a language mother tongue does not always mean to use it. However, have you ever thought about the reasons behind this situation?
It should be reminded that in 2019, 365 years have passed since the Pereyaslav Rada and the signing of the March Articles, which marked the beginning of the methodical destruction of the signs of Ukrainian statehood and identity. A few centuries after the events of January-March 1654, they also became a powerful ideological weapon of Soviet State, which did not get tired from claiming the so-called "reunification" of Russia and Ukraine within the general myth of "three brotherly nations" (Belarusians, Ukrainians, and Russians) ), which is still used by Russia to justify their invading actions [4, 5].
It should be reminded that in 2019, 365 years have passed since the Pereyaslav Rada and the signing of the March Articles, which marked the beginning of the methodical destruction of the signs of Ukrainian statehood and identity. A few centuries after the events of January-March 1654, they also became a powerful ideological weapon of Soviet State, which did not get tired from claiming the so-called "reunification" of Russia and Ukraine within the general myth of "three brotherly nations" (Belarusians, Ukrainians, and Russians) ), which is still used by Russia to justify their invading actions [4, 5].
Hence, the question naturally arises: how did it happen that the Ukrainians decided to get closer to the Russians and have not been able to get rid of it for 3.5 centuries? In fact, in the 17th century, Ukrainian kozak state (Hetmanschyna) was in the area of the invading interests of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth and Crimian Hanate (an ally of Ottoman Empire (Turkey)). Finding themselves at the beginning of the National Revolution of 1648-1676 between such powerful states at that time and desperately repelling their attacks, at the same time the Kozaks sought to find countries with which a military-political alliance could be formed for the successful repulsion of the enemies of that time. The Hetman of the Zaporozhian Army Bohdan Khmelnytsky (1596-1657) proposed to enter into an alliance with the Moscow kingdom which did not carry out aggressive actions against Ukraine at that time. January 8 ( old style - January 18 ) 1654 Kozaks gathered in Pereyaslav and decided after long negotiations and under pressure of circumstances to recognize the foreign policy superiority of the Moscow tsar [6]. In March 1654, the Kozak embassy arrived in Moscow, where later the "March Articles" were concluded. They nominally preserved all the privileges of the Kozaks and the rights of other sections of Ukrainian society, and nominally affirmed the independence of the Ukrainian government in domestic politics. With regard to foreign policy activities, the Ukrainian government has indeed given up its independence, recognized the protectorate of the Moscow Tsar and agreed to pay annually a tax to his treasury. The Moscovites, in turn, promised to join the war against Poland on Ukraine's side and provide military assistance in the event of an attack by the Crimean Khanate [7] .And that's all. That is, Moscovites' control over the internal affairs of Ukrainians was not meant.
Hence, the question naturally arises: how did it happen that the Ukrainians decided to get closer to the Russians and have not been able to get rid of it for 3.5 centuries? In fact, in the 17th century, Ukrainian kozak state (Hetmanschyna) was in the area of the invading interests of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth and Crimian Hanate (an ally of Ottoman Empire (Turkey)). Finding themselves at the beginning of the National Revolution of 1648-1676 between such powerful states at that time and desperately repelling their attacks, at the same time the Kozaks sought to find countries with which a military-political alliance could be formed for the successful repulsion of the enemies of that time. The Hetman of the Zaporozhian Army Bohdan Khmelnytsky (1596-1657) proposed to enter into an alliance with the Moscow kingdom which did not carry out aggressive actions against Ukraine at that time. January 8 ( old style - January 18 ) 1654 Kozaks gathered in Pereyaslav and decided after long negotiations and under pressure of circumstances to recognize the foreign policy superiority of the Moscow tsar [6]. In March 1654, the Kozak embassy arrived in Moscow, where later the "March Articles" were concluded. They nominally preserved all the privileges of the Kozaks and the rights of other sections of Ukrainian society, and nominally affirmed the independence of the Ukrainian government in domestic politics. With regard to foreign policy activities, the Ukrainian government has indeed given up its independence, recognized the protectorate of the Moscow Tsar and agreed to pay annually a tax to his treasury. The Moscovites, in turn, promised to join the war against Poland on Ukraine's side and provide military assistance in the event of an attack by the Crimean Khanate [7] .And that's all. That is, Moscovites' control over the internal affairs of Ukrainians was not meant.
However, further developments demonstrated that the treaty, which the Ukrainians considered a temporary military-political union, was treated in its own way by the Muscovites who decided to subjugate Ukrainians to themselves. It took Khmelnytsky two years to realize this. In 1656, he had already assured that the Ukrainians should flee from Russians, and in foreign policy he sought to reorient itself to Sweden [8] .However, his plans were not destined to come true: in 1657, Khmelnytsky died, and his successors were unable to withstand simultaneously the Poles, Turks, and the Russian tsar, whose power continued to grow. Thus, in October 1659, Hetman Yuri Khmelnitsky was forced to sign the Pereyaslav Agreement, which provided for a number of bondage conditions for Ukraine [9]. In 1662, an order (prykaz) was created (called Little Russian (Malorosijskij) to psychologically assert the status of a Moscow/Russian colony) to govern the territories of Eastern (Left Bank of Dnipro river) Ukraine. This body was approving the nominations for the post of Hetman, appointed governors in Ukrainian cities, controlled the actions of the Hetman government, and also coordinated the activities of the Orthodox Church in Ukraine [10]. So, after a very short period of time, Ukrainians were forced to report to their "allies" on their internal affairs, and those had already started rusification campaign in their territories. In the context of the development of the Ukrainian language, the reorganization of the administrative apparatus and the need to report to Moscow meant that the Kozak army, whose document circulation was in Ukrainian (skoropys), began to gradually switch to Russian, so that Moscow officials could understand the content of their documents [11]. Already at the beginning of the 18th century, a large-scale offensive on Ukrainian language began oh the legislative level. Thus, in 1720 Peter I issued a decree prohibiting the publication of books in the Ukrainian language and the removal of Ukrainian texts from church books. By the decree of Peter II, all state decrees and decrees issued in Ukrainian had to be translated into Russian (1729). In addition to the official instructions were secret instructions. For example, it is known that Empress Anna Ivanovna (1693-1740) in 1734 ordered the "ruler of Little Russia" to Prince Alexei Shakhovsky (c. 1690-1737) to encourage marriages of Ukrainians with the Russians in order to bring them "into the property with great russians", what was meant to be by its in essence assimilation [12] .The natural tolerance of most Ukrainians to other cultures has become destructively dangerous when interacting with more aggressive, more ambitious, and much less tolerant Russians.
However, further developments demonstrated that the treaty, which the Ukrainians considered a temporary military-political union, was treated in its own way by the Muscovites who decided to subjugate Ukrainians to themselves. It took Khmelnytsky two years to realize this. In 1656, he had already assured that the Ukrainians should flee from Russians, and in foreign policy he sought to reorient itself to Sweden [8] .However, his plans were not destined to come true: in 1657, Khmelnytsky died, and his successors were unable to withstand simultaneously the Poles, Turks, and the Russian tsar, whose power continued to grow. Thus, in October 1659, Hetman Yuri Khmelnitsky was forced to sign the Pereyaslav Agreement, which provided for a number of bondage conditions for Ukraine [9]. In 1662, an order (prykaz) was created (called Little Russian (Malorosijskij) to psychologically assert the status of a Moscow/Russian colony) to govern the territories of Eastern (Left Bank of Dnipro river) Ukraine. This body was approving the nominations for the post of Hetman, appointed governors in Ukrainian cities, controlled the actions of the Hetman government, and also coordinated the activities of the Orthodox Church in Ukraine [10]. So, after a very short period of time, Ukrainians were forced to report to their "allies" on their internal affairs, and those had already started rusification campaign in their territories. In the context of the development of the Ukrainian language, the reorganization of the administrative apparatus and the need to report to Moscow meant that the Kozak army, whose document circulation was in Ukrainian (skoropys), began to gradually switch to Russian, so that Moscow officials could understand the content of their documents [11]. Already at the beginning of the 18th century, a large-scale offensive on Ukrainian language began oh the legislative level. Thus, in 1720 Peter I issued a decree prohibiting the publication of books in the Ukrainian language and the removal of Ukrainian texts from church books. By the decree of Peter II, all state decrees and decrees issued in Ukrainian had to be translated into Russian (1729). In addition to the official instructions were secret instructions. For example, it is known that Empress Anna Ivanovna (1693-1740) in 1734 ordered the "ruler of Little Russia" to Prince Alexei Shakhovsky (c. 1690-1737) to encourage marriages of Ukrainians with the Russians in order to bring them "into the property with great russians", what was meant to be by its in essence assimilation [12] .The natural tolerance of most Ukrainians to other cultures has become destructively dangerous when interacting with more aggressive, more ambitious, and much less tolerant Russians.
Some pressure on the Ukrainian language and culture was eased during the reign of Elizaveta Petrovna (1709–1761), but her successor, Catherine II (1729–1796), struck a devastating blow to Ukrainian statehood and culture [13] .In 1764, the Empress finally eliminated the Hetmanate, the Ukrainian Kozak state, in the territory of the Higher Dnipro lands, Siverschyna, Polissya and East Podillia [14], transfering the governance to a board (kollegia) in its territory. The following year, the territory of the former Hetmanate was reformed into a province. At the same time there was a process of liquidation of the autonomy of the Slobid Kozak army units, which ended with the formation in the same year of the Sloboda-Ukrainian province. In 1775 Zaporozhska Sich was destroyed.
Some pressure on the Ukrainian language and culture was eased during the reign of Elizaveta Petrovna (1709–1761), but her successor, Catherine II (1729–1796), struck a devastating blow to Ukrainian statehood and culture [13] .In 1764, the Empress finally eliminated the Hetmanate, the Ukrainian Kozak state, in the territory of the Higher Dnipro lands, Siverschyna, Polissya and East Podillia [14], transfering the governance to a board (kollegia) in its territory. The following year, the territory of the former Hetmanate was reformed into a province. At the same time there was a process of liquidation of the autonomy of the Slobid Kozak army units, which ended with the formation in the same year of the Sloboda-Ukrainian province. In 1775 Zaporozhska Sich was destroyed.
Destroying the remnants of statehood, the empress simultaneously turned to language and culture: in 1763 she forbade teaching Ukrainian at the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, and in 1775 closed Ukrainian schools at Kozak army offices. Her successors continued the case and even took it to a new level in 1804. Alexander I (1801-1825) forbade all Ukrainian-language schools, which led to a decline in Ukrainian education. In 1832, the new Tsar Nicholas I organized on the Right Bank of Dniper Russian-language schools by the same template as throughout the empire. And 15 years later, during his reign, the famous Cyril and Methodius Society, whose members were prominent figures of Ukrainian culture, such as Taras Shevchenko, Mykola Kulish, Mykola Kostomarov, was liquidated. [15]
Destroying the remnants of statehood, the empress simultaneously turned to language and culture: in 1763 she forbade teaching Ukrainian at the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, and in 1775 closed Ukrainian schools at Kozak army offices. Her successors continued the case and even took it to a new level in 1804. Alexander I (1801-1825) forbade all Ukrainian-language schools, which led to a decline in Ukrainian education. In 1832, the new Tsar Nicholas I organized on the Right Bank of Dniper Russian-language schools by the same template as throughout the empire. And 15 years later, during his reign, the famous Cyril and Methodius Society, whose members were prominent figures of Ukrainian culture, such as Taras Shevchenko, Mykola Kulish, Mykola Kostomarov, was liquidated. [15]
In the 1860-1870's the Ukrainian language was hit hard: in 1863, according to the decree of the Minister of Internal Affairs of the Russian Empire, Peter Valuev (1815-1890), it was forbidden to print educational, religiouse and scientific literature in Ukrainian (in history books the document is called the Valuev circular). In 1876, Emperor Alexander II issued an Ems decree, extending this prohibition: from that time Ukrainian literature was not allowed to be imported into the territory of the empire. In addition, they were not allowed to publish works and translations from foreign languages in Ukrainian, to hold theatrical performances and public readings. The ban also acted on teaching Ukrainian.
In the 1860-1870's the Ukrainian language was hit hard: in 1863, according to the decree of the Minister of Internal Affairs of the Russian Empire, Peter Valuev (1815-1890), it was forbidden to print educational, religiouse and scientific literature in Ukrainian (in history books the document is called the Valuev circular). In 1876, Emperor Alexander II issued an Ems decree, extending this prohibition: from that time Ukrainian literature was not allowed to be imported into the territory of the empire. In addition, they were not allowed to publish works and translations from foreign languages in Ukrainian, to hold theatrical performances and public readings. The ban also acted on teaching Ukrainian.
The implications were obvious: the activities of Ukrainian educators and cultural figures have been paralyzed. The South-West Division of the Geographical Society [16], even the Russian-language newspaper Kyiv Telegraph (which touched on many cultural issues of Ukrainians and therefore was targeted by the Russian authorities), ceased to exist .Many Ukrainian figures, such as M. Drahomanov, F. Vovk, M. Ziber, P. Chubinsky, S. Podolynsky, P. Zhitetsky, and others, had to emigrate abroad because of their activities. At the same time, the image of the Russian language as a prestigious one was formed in the minds of the population of the Russian Empire, it was embedded to be perceived as indication of high social origin, education and bourgeoisie as opposed to the poorly educated and impoverished Ukrainian-speaking peasants, the so-called "Little Russians". Many efforts were made to bring the Russians and the "foreigners" closer together, and to "rusify" the latter [17].
The implications were obvious: the activities of Ukrainian educators and cultural figures have been paralyzed. The South-West Division of the Geographical Society [16], even the Russian-language newspaper Kyiv Telegraph (which touched on many cultural issues of Ukrainians and therefore was targeted by the Russian authorities), ceased to exist .Many Ukrainian figures, such as M. Drahomanov, F. Vovk, M. Ziber, P. Chubinsky, S. Podolynsky, P. Zhitetsky, and others, had to emigrate abroad because of their activities. At the same time, the image of the Russian language as a prestigious one was formed in the minds of the population of the Russian Empire, it was embedded to be perceived as indication of high social origin, education and bourgeoisie as opposed to the poorly educated and impoverished Ukrainian-speaking peasants, the so-called "Little Russians". Many efforts were made to bring the Russians and the "foreigners" closer together, and to "rusify" the latter [17].
Ems decree existed until 1905. However, the new century, the beginning of which gave the Ukrainian people many extraordinary personalities in many spheres, which awakened the national consciousness, eventually turned to Ukrainians by an even greater number of formal and informal bans on national and cultural expression and, most importantly, unprecedented scales of bloody repressions, which resulted in physical elimination of much of the nation's cultural and intellectual elite.
Ems decree existed until 1905. However, the new century, the beginning of which gave the Ukrainian people many extraordinary personalities in many spheres, which awakened the national consciousness, eventually turned to Ukrainians by an even greater number of formal and informal bans on national and cultural expression and, most importantly, unprecedented scales of bloody repressions, which resulted in physical elimination of much of the nation's cultural and intellectual elite.
After the defeat in the unequal struggle during the Ukrainian Revolution (1917-1921), one of the Union republics of the Soviet Union - the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic - was formed, which became part of USSR in 1922. In April 1923, for the sake of stabilizing the situation in the Union republics, the Soviet government declared a course for the indigenization, that is, the promotion of national languages and cultures in all spheres of life. In the USSR, this meant the beginning of Ukrainianization. During the implementation of this policy, many prominent Ukrainians began their active pursuit with enthusiasm and soon paid for it. Soviets quickly realized that the development of national cultures threatened the existence of the USSR, but its encouragement over a short period of time showed them the most active leaders, whom the authorities decided to get rid of. Many young Ukrainian writers, philosophers, artists, musicians, and figures in other spheres who gave highly artistic works to the Ukrainian people were destroyed by the Stalinist regime, and this cultural genocide was called "The Shot Renaissance" [18]. Sent to exile, executed by the Soviet authorities in the 1930s, they were to become the generation that would revive Ukrainian culture, which had been oppressed by Russian tsars for centuries. Only among the killed in the tract Sandarmokh (Republic of Karelia, Russia), where at the hands of the Soviet regimen, 9500 people of 58 nationalities found their death, there were 287 natives of Ukraine [19]. Among them are Les Kurbas (1887-1937), Mikhail Yalovy (1895-1937), Valeryan Pidmogilny (1901-1937), Mykola Kulish (1892-1937), Mykola Zerov (1890-1937), Marko Voroniy (1904-1937) ) and many others.
After the defeat in the unequal struggle during the Ukrainian Revolution (1917-1921), one of the Union republics of the Soviet Union - the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic - was formed, which became part of USSR in 1922. In April 1923, for the sake of stabilizing the situation in the Union republics, the Soviet government declared a course for the indigenization, that is, the promotion of national languages and cultures in all spheres of life. In the USSR, this meant the beginning of Ukrainianization. During the implementation of this policy, many prominent Ukrainians began their active pursuit with enthusiasm and soon paid for it. Soviets quickly realized that the development of national cultures threatened the existence of the USSR, but its encouragement over a short period of time showed them the most active leaders, whom the authorities decided to get rid of. Many young Ukrainian writers, philosophers, artists, musicians, and figures in other spheres who gave highly artistic works to the Ukrainian people were destroyed by the Stalinist regime, and this cultural genocide was called "The Shot Renaissance" [18]. Sent to exile, executed by the Soviet authorities in the 1930s, they were to become the generation that would revive Ukrainian culture, which had been oppressed by Russian tsars for centuries. Only among the killed in the tract Sandarmokh (Republic of Karelia, Russia), where at the hands of the Soviet regimen, 9500 people of 58 nationalities found their death, there were 287 natives of Ukraine [19]. Among them are Les Kurbas (1887-1937), Mikhail Yalovy (1895-1937), Valeryan Pidmogilny (1901-1937), Mykola Kulish (1892-1937), Mykola Zerov (1890-1937), Marko Voroniy (1904-1937) ) and many others.
An independent Ukrainian peasants were also uncomfortable and threatening for the Soviet regime. They were destroyed by dispossession and their numerous revolts against Soviet power on the beginning of 30s could be quenched only by the artificially created Holodomor (1932-1933) [20]. By "clearing" the territories of the disagreeable, the Soviet authorities relocated the Russians to them, especially to the eastern and southern parts of Ukraine - Donetsk, Luhansk, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhia, Kharkiv, Odessa, Mykolaiv and Kherson regions. As of the end of 1933, 109 trains of displaced persons were sent to the Dnipropetrovsk region alone [21].
An independent Ukrainian peasants were also uncomfortable and threatening for the Soviet regime. They were destroyed by dispossession and their numerous revolts against Soviet power on the beginning of 30s could be quenched only by the artificially created Holodomor (1932-1933) [20]. By "clearing" the territories of the disagreeable, the Soviet authorities relocated the Russians to them, especially to the eastern and southern parts of Ukraine - Donetsk, Luhansk, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhia, Kharkiv, Odessa, Mykolaiv and Kherson regions. As of the end of 1933, 109 trains of displaced persons were sent to the Dnipropetrovsk region alone [21].
Another attack on Ukrainian identity took place during and after the Second World War. Many facts testify to the Soviet government's struggle directly with OUN and UPA fighters, however, little is known that in the spring of 1944 the USSR NKVS (security service) issued instructions for deportation from Western Ukraine of their families. Only in 1944-1948 more than 100 thousand people were deported from Rivne, Lviv, Volyn, Stanislavsk, Ternopil, Drohobych, Chernivtsi regions [22].
Another attack on Ukrainian identity took place during and after the Second World War. Many facts testify to the Soviet government's struggle directly with OUN and UPA fighters, however, little is known that in the spring of 1944 the USSR NKVS (security service) issued instructions for deportation from Western Ukraine of their families. Only in 1944-1948 more than 100 thousand people were deported from Rivne, Lviv, Volyn, Stanislavsk, Ternopil, Drohobych, Chernivtsi regions [22].
In the 1960s and 1970s, the Soviet government continued to attack the Ukrainian language. In particular, the course was taken to bring the Ukrainian and Russian languages closer together by adapting the former to the latter. In April 1960, O. Palladin, Y. Dadenkov, and I. Bilodid reported to the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Ukraine and the Council of Ministers of the USSR that: "In connection with the release of the Rules of Russian Grammar and Spelling and Punctuation" (Moscow, Uchpedgiz, 1956), [. ..] on our behalf, the commission of the Institute of Linguistics of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR has prepared the 2nd edition of "Ukrainian grammar and spelling" [...]. In the 2nd edition of the "Ukrainian grammar and spelling" eliminated unnecessary differences with the rules of Russian spelling and punctuation [...] »[cit. By 23]. And now there is a gradual renewal of the identity of the Ukrainian spelling, Russified in Soviet times [24]. In parallel, in the 1960s and 1970s, a new wave of repression was observed against Ukrainian figures (the Sixties, dissidents).
In the 1960s and 1970s, the Soviet government continued to attack the Ukrainian language. In particular, the course was taken to bring the Ukrainian and Russian languages closer together by adapting the former to the latter. In April 1960, O. Palladin, Y. Dadenkov, and I. Bilodid reported to the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Ukraine and the Council of Ministers of the USSR that: "In connection with the release of the Rules of Russian Grammar and Spelling and Punctuation" (Moscow, Uchpedgiz, 1956), [. ..] on our behalf, the commission of the Institute of Linguistics of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR has prepared the 2nd edition of "Ukrainian grammar and spelling" [...]. In the 2nd edition of the "Ukrainian grammar and spelling" eliminated unnecessary differences with the rules of Russian spelling and punctuation [...] »[cit. By 23]. And now there is a gradual renewal of the identity of the Ukrainian spelling, Russified in Soviet times [24]. In parallel, in the 1960s and 1970s, a new wave of repression was observed against Ukrainian figures (the Sixties, dissidents).
Studying Russian has become compulsory since 1938. It was simply impossible to build a more or less decent career without knowing it in the Soviet Union [25]. Appointment to administrative positions ethnic Russians in state bodies of the capital and regional centers of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic has been widely practiced, which is why many middle and large Ukrainian cities centers are still populated by their descendants. Many of them and their descendants, through Soviet administrative ties, established their own businesses and now dominate the business environment of these cities. But if you visit villages even in Donetsk and Lugansk regions today, you will see that they speak Ukrainian because the ethnic composition of the population in villages was not forcibly changed.
Studying Russian has become compulsory since 1938. It was simply impossible to build a more or less decent career without knowing it in the Soviet Union [25]. Appointment to administrative positions ethnic Russians in state bodies of the capital and regional centers of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic has been widely practiced, which is why many middle and large Ukrainian cities centers are still populated by their descendants. Many of them and their descendants, through Soviet administrative ties, established their own businesses and now dominate the business environment of these cities. But if you visit villages even in Donetsk and Lugansk regions today, you will see that they speak Ukrainian because the ethnic composition of the population in villages was not forcibly changed.
All of the above had a significant impact on the Ukrainians. Overcoming the consequences takes a long time, because until recently a considerable number of Ukrainian citizens considered Ukrainian language as a sign of retrograde, rural origin, poor education. No wonder many villagers, having moved to the city often tried to switch to Russian at once, as if distinguishing their "old and disadvantaged" rural life from the "fashionable and successful" urban. In fact, biased attitudes towards the villages and villagers, its discredit and decline are the result of Soviet propaganda, as is the fact that a Ukrainian-speaking citizen is forced to feel alien, trying to speak Ukrainian in the company of friends, at work or in any other place where used to speak Russian. Unfortunately, the generation of Ukrainians born in the independent state is still the bearer of an inferiority complex inherited from older relatives, which is a source of destructive, for Ukrainian language and culture, stereotypes. However, in recent years it is impossible not to notice the positive dynamics, because many citizens in large cities, despite the mental pressure of the environment, are already communicating mainly in Ukrainian.
All of the above had a significant impact on the Ukrainians. Overcoming the consequences takes a long time, because until recently a considerable number of Ukrainian citizens considered Ukrainian language as a sign of retrograde, rural origin, poor education. No wonder many villagers, having moved to the city often tried to switch to Russian at once, as if distinguishing their "old and disadvantaged" rural life from the "fashionable and successful" urban. In fact, biased attitudes towards the villages and villagers, its discredit and decline are the result of Soviet propaganda, as is the fact that a Ukrainian-speaking citizen is forced to feel alien, trying to speak Ukrainian in the company of friends, at work or in any other place where used to speak Russian. Unfortunately, the generation of Ukrainians born in the independent state is still the bearer of an inferiority complex inherited from older relatives, which is a source of destructive, for Ukrainian language and culture, stereotypes. However, in recent years it is impossible not to notice the positive dynamics, because many citizens in large cities, despite the mental pressure of the environment, are already communicating mainly in Ukrainian.
Thus, after above historical excursion into the colonization, linguistic and cultural policies of the Moscow kingdom, the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union on the Ukrainian territories, it becomes clear that the destruction of the Ukrainian language, the devaluation of its authority, was carried out methodically and purposefully for 3.5 centuries. In many respects, the goal has been achieved, because today Ukraine does not have enough Ukrainian-language product of good and decent quality, worthy of following and reverence, and a considerable percentage of the population still believes that the Ukrainian language is inferior to Russian in prestige.
Thus, after above historical excursion into the colonization, linguistic and cultural policies of the Moscow kingdom, the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union on the Ukrainian territories, it becomes clear that the destruction of the Ukrainian language, the devaluation of its authority, was carried out methodically and purposefully for 3.5 centuries. In many respects, the goal has been achieved, because today Ukraine does not have enough Ukrainian-language product of good and decent quality, worthy of following and reverence, and a considerable percentage of the population still believes that the Ukrainian language is inferior to Russian in prestige.
In this context, the adoption and entry into force of the Law on Language on July 9, 2019 no longer looks as "repression against Russian-speaking" and "impediment to the activities of independent Ukrainian Russian-language media," as many seek to portray. It is a completely humane, acceptable and tolerant means of restoring the proper status of the Ukrainian language in Ukraine, where attempts to destroy it lasted centuries [26].
In this context, the adoption and entry into force of the Law on Language on July 9, 2019 no longer looks as "repression against Russian-speaking" and "impediment to the activities of independent Ukrainian Russian-language media," as many seek to portray. It is a completely humane, acceptable and tolerant means of restoring the proper status of the Ukrainian language in Ukraine, where attempts to destroy it lasted centuries [26].
Today there is a gradual revival of the Ukrainian-language cultural product, a talented galaxy of actors, composers, writers, translators, singers is slowly growing in quantity and quality. However, in the public space of the country, Russian language is spread disproportionately to the ethnic composition of the country's population, and in order to change the situation it is not enough to have a law on the language and to encourage Ukrainian artists to produce more and better quality Ukrainian-language product, it is also necessary that every citizen of Ukraine joins this process by realizing the importance Ukrainian culture, history and identity for our country, and acted based on this awareness - communicate, create, sing in Ukrainian!
Today there is a gradual revival of the Ukrainian-language cultural product, a talented galaxy of actors, composers, writers, translators, singers is slowly growing in quantity and quality. However, in the public space of the country, Russian language is spread disproportionately to the ethnic composition of the country's population, and in order to change the situation it is not enough to have a law on the language and to encourage Ukrainian artists to produce more and better quality Ukrainian-language product, it is also necessary that every citizen of Ukraine joins this process by realizing the importance Ukrainian culture, history and identity for our country, and acted based on this awareness - communicate, create, sing in Ukrainian!
References
References
1. About the Number and Composition of the Population of Ukraine by the Results of the All-Ukrainian Population Census 2001, All-Ukrainian Population Census, 2001 ( http://2001.ukrcensus.gov.ua/results/general/language/ )
1. About the Number and Composition of the Population of Ukraine by the Results of the All-Ukrainian Population Census 2001, All-Ukrainian Population Census, 2001 ( http://2001.ukrcensus.gov.ua/results/general/language/ )
2. MONATIK hits a new song in Ukrainian (video), RBC-Ukraine, May 20, 2018 ( https://styler.rbc.ua/rus/zvyozdy/monatik-porazil-novoy-pesney-ukrainskom-zyke-1526824189.html)
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