Russian politicians and pro-Russian politicians in Ukraine love the myth that the Ukrainian language is a big problem for people living in southeastern Ukraine. After the country turned westward following the EuroMaidan Revolution, Russian President Vladimir Putin considered the protection of Russian speakers an adequate reason for invading Ukraine, leading some Ukrainians to urge to switch to Ukrainian as protection for Russian aggression. Even now, pro-Russian forces continue to exploit this myth, which sometimes spills out to western media. A new report by the Institute of Mass Information suggests that the language question is not as important to the population of southeastern Ukraine as politicians would like to believe.
Ukrainian vs. Russian Language
OP-ED
Olena Makarenko: Russian-speakers having problems with Ukrainian language more myth than reality
People hold the 25-meter flag of Ukraine to celebrate the National Flag Day at the Potemkin Stairs in Odesa, August 23, 2016.
