In February 2023, the majority of Ukrainians (52%) are against having the Russian language in a school curriculum in any form. Four years ago, only 8% of Ukrainians shared this opinion.
This is according to a survey by KIIS.
“And although now 42% support preserving the Russian language in schools to a certain extent, significant changes are being observed as to the time that should be devoted to Russian language studies,” sociologists note.
According to KIIS, in 1998, some 46% believed that the hours for the Russian language should be the same as for the Ukrainian. In 2019, the indicator was 30%, and now it is only 3%. Also, from 32% to 6%, fell the share of those who believe that the Russian language should be studied to a lesser extent than Ukrainian, but to a greater extent than other foreign languages.
Now, in fact, of the indicated 42%, the vast majority, 33%, (or almost 80% of this category) – would like children to have as much hours or fewer for the Russian language than for other foreign languages, the poll says.
Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) ran the survey on February 14-22 among 2,002 respondents. The survey did not cover the occupied Crimea and Donbas. Citizens who fled the country after the invasion were not polled either.
It should be recalled that in late 2022, the absolute majority of Ukrainians considered Russia’s top leadership guilty of committing war crimes against Ukraine (98%). Some 96% believe it’s the Russian military that must be held accountable, and 87% believe Russian citizens in general are also to blame. Only 10% consider the Russian population not guilty.
