Many Ukrainians speak Russian and even consider it their native language. Abroad, it is also common to hear Russian spoken by people who have left Ukraine. It is worth noting that some Russians abroad, for various reasons, falsely claim to be Ukrainians. However, here we will try to answer the question: how did it happen that Ukrainians speak Russian?

The current state of the "language issue" in Ukraine is the result of several factors. One of them is centuries of systematic and forced Russification in education, culture, and the socio-political sphere. (More on this here: link).

Another major reason for the spread of Russian among Ukrainians is demographics. Due to the Holodomor and political repressions, Ukraine suffered massive human losses. Millions of Ukrainians also perished during World War II. Additionally, the Soviet authorities deliberately exterminated the Ukrainian intelligentsia, accusing them of nationalism, and implemented policies of internal and inter-republican migration. As a result of this policy, some Ukrainians were deported, while others were encouraged through mass propaganda campaigns to migrate to different regions of the Soviet Union, particularly those in need of economic development. At the same time, many Russians were resettled in Ukraine. This mixing of different ethnic populations, combined with strong state support for the Russian language, led people to adopt Russian not only in official domains but also in everyday communication. Moreover, Russian dominated the education system and mass media. Many Ukrainians received their education in Russian, and the majority of books, films, and television programs were produced in Russian, influencing people's language habits.

After Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, many Russian-speaking Ukrainians recognized the importance of preserving the Ukrainian language as a symbol of national identity and resistance to the aggressor, leading them to switch to Ukrainian. However, even now, many people in Ukraine continue to speak Russian. Psychologists explain this with various factors, including the "perfectionist syndrome" (where people refuse to speak Ukrainian because they fear making mistakes, incorporating elements of surzhyk—a mix of Ukrainian and Russian—or so-called "Russicisms") and the "learned helplessness syndrome" (where individuals believe they will not succeed in learning Ukrainian, so they give up before trying). Older people also find it more difficult to change their language habits.

According to statistics from June 2024, 27% of Ukrainians felt their Ukrainian language skills were sufficient for everyday communication but struggled to discuss specialized topics, while only 3% considered speaking Ukrainian a real problem.

Thus, just as the spread of the Russian language in Ukraine was the result of long historical processes and political influences, the revival and expansion of the Ukrainian language also require time and effort. People can contribute to this process by setting an example and learning Ukrainian. There is no better motivation for a Russian-speaking Ukrainian than an American or a German greeting them and asking how they are—in Ukrainian!

More statistical data on the "language issue" in Ukraine can be found here: link (in Ukrainian).