«Языковой откат» после «языкового сдвига»: Факторы легитимации русского языка в Украине во время российско-украинской войны

Abstract

Based on statements made by Ukraine’s State Language Protection Commissioner in late 2025 and early 2026, as well as recent public opinion poll data, this study examines the phenomenon of "language rollback"—the return of some Russian-speaking Ukrainians to the use of Russian language following the initial mass shift to Ukrainian in 2022 (triggered by the full-scale Russian invasion and known as the "language shift"). Through an analysis of (semi-) private remarks by Russian-speaking Ukrainians, social media comments, statements by Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister for Humanitarian Policy, and comments from Ukrainian military personnel regarding the use of Russian in the army, six factors contributing to the legitimation of Russian language in Ukraine during the ongoing war have been identified: the use of Russian among internally displaced persons; Russian serving as a “lingua franca” for Ukrainian refugees in EU countries; the perception among Ukrainians of Russian language from Russia as distinct from that in Ukraine; the wide consumption of Russian-language content; the availability of Russian-language versions of major Ukrainian media; and the "language scandal" involving Iryna Farion in November 2023, which sparked a widespread public outcry. The latter two factors are believed to be the most significant drivers of this "language rollback".