The Russian-Speaking Minority in Ukraine and the Russian Invasion

Abstract

Various ethnic and linguistic minority groups live within the borders of Ukraine. The management of these minorities has led to tensions, which seemed to be resolved partly due to Ukraine’s adherence to international treaties ensuring their protection. Among these diverse minority groups, the Russian-speaking population needs special attention. By Russian-speaking, we mean anyone who uses Russian as their preferred language, regardless of their ethnic background and political preferences. The presence of such a high number of Russian speakers became problematic from 2014 onward, when the use of the Ukrainian language took on a more pronounced political significance, and the divide with the rest of the Russian-speaking world became more apparent. This divide was evident through Ukraine’s political choice to align with the Euro-Atlantic world and Russia’s annexation of Crimea. The situation became even more complex following the Russian attack on February 24, 2022, which exacerbated tensions and moved away from the prospect of a peaceful resolution. In the first part of the article, a definition of Russian-speaking minorities is provided, with data justifying the choice to focus on the linguistic factor instead of relying solely on ethnicity. The second part historically explains the presence of minorities in Ukraine. The third part analyzes the situation of Russian speakers from the time of Ukraine’s independence to the present by examining the Ukrainian constitution and regulations related to minority management. It also considers the reports, comments, and opinions of the Advisory Committee of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities and the Committee of Experts on the Application of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. The goal was to trace how the situation of Russian speakers in Ukraine changed over time, with a particular emphasis on issues arising from the escalation of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict.

Keywords : minority, language, Russian-speaking, Ukraine, protection