The Ukrainian language has a special place in the life of the Ukrainian people and state.
According to the Constitution of Ukraine, Ukrainian is the official language in Ukraine throughout its territory. The state has granted the Ukrainian language in Ukraine the legal status of an obligatory means of communication in public spheres of public life in Ukraine.
This means that it has priority use in all spheres of public life:
- State institutions: All state documents, laws, regulations, and decisions must be written in Ukrainian. Employees of government agencies are required to speak Ukrainian and use it in their work.
- Education: Ukrainian is the language of instruction in all educational institutions, from pre-school to higher education. Learning of other languages is encouraged, but Ukrainian remains the basis of the educational process.
- Culture: The Ukrainian language is the language of literature, art, theater, cinema and other cultural spheres. It is the carrier of Ukrainian history, traditions and values.
- Mass communications: Mass media in Ukraine are obliged to provide sufficient information in Ukrainian. The Ukrainian language is used in television, radio, print media, and the Internet.
- Service sector: Employees in the service sector are required to speak Ukrainian to serve customers.
Why is the Ukrainian language so important?
- It unites the nation: The Ukrainian language is one of the most important factors of national unity and self-identification of Ukrainians.
- Preserves cultural heritage: The Ukrainian language is a carrier of the centuries-old history, traditions, and culture of the Ukrainian people.
- Guarantees the rights of citizens: The use of the state language ensures equal rights for all citizens of Ukraine.
- Contributes to the development of the state: The development of the Ukrainian language is an important factor in the development of the Ukrainian state as a whole.
Ukraine ensures the comprehensive development and functioning of the Ukrainian language in all spheres of public life. The state authorities, authorities of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and local self-government bodies, public bodies, enterprises, institutions and organizations shall provide citizens of Ukraine with the necessary conditions for learning the Ukrainian language and its advanced mastery in pre-schools, secondary schools and higher education institutions, as well as through a wide network of Ukrainian-language television and radio broadcasts, films dubbed in Ukrainian, audiovisual products, Ukrainian-language print media and Internet portals.
State authorities facilitate the establishment and operation of Ukrainian language courses and clubs.
