Law Against the Language: Ukraine wants to completely ban the performance of songs in Russian

Ukraine’s new language ombudsman, Olena Ivanovska, has proposed tightening the country’s cultural policy by effectively demanding a legal ban on performing songs in the Russian language.

At present, as Ivanovska points out, Ukrainian legislation only restricts performances of songs authored by Russian citizens. However, the ombudsman now insists that the very act of singing in Russian — regardless of the content or the songwriter’s nationality — is allegedly “negatively perceived by society” and should be banned.

According to her, the current restrictions — introduced in some Ukrainian cities (including Kyiv and Ternopil) but not backed by formal sanctions — are insufficient. Ivanovska argues that “public support for the ban” must be enshrined in law.

This proposal raises concerns about increasing cultural censorship, direct state interference in freedom of expression, and a troubling trend of treating a language as an “enemy” regardless of context or meaning.

The issue gained particular attention after a recent performance by Verka Serduchka, who sang a song in Russian. Despite audience support at the concert, part of the online community reacted with outrage — a reaction that apparently prompted the renewed push for stricter control.

While experts and human rights advocates sound the alarm, viewing such initiatives as a threat to cultural diversity and freedom, the authorities appear to be moving toward the total suppression of Russian-language heritage — disregarding the interests of millions of Ukrainian citizens for whom Russian is a native language.