- January 14, 2026
- 6:42 pm
- Ukraine
On Tuesday, January 13, 2026, the parliamentary process in Kyiv received a noticeable cultural-linguistic accent. The Committee on Humanitarian and Information Policy supported an initiative aimed not at cosmetic edits, but at a deep revision of the language of Ukrainian legislation.
This involves systematically overcoming the consequences of Soviet Russification — both in the wording of laws and in their visual appearance. The discussion took place with the participation of representatives of the government, the President’s Office, relevant ministries, and experts, highlighting the political weight of the topic.
The initiative is formalized in the draft resolution “On Strengthening the Role of the Ukrainian Language in the Establishment of the Ukrainian State” (registration No. 14334). The document was considered on January 12 at a meeting of the relevant committee of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.
According to the Speaker of Parliament Ruslan Stefanchuk, a significant portion of the current laws still remain a “copy” of the Russian language — formally translated but constructed according to foreign logic and filled with Soviet bureaucratic language.
He reminded that 73 years under Soviet occupation effectively froze the development of the Ukrainian scientific and legal language. This, according to the authors of the initiative, requires conscious correction now.
What exactly is proposed to change
One of the key points is the update of Ukrainian spelling. After consultations with the Cabinet of Ministers and scientific institutions, the finalization of this work is expected by March 1. This is not about symbolic corrections, but about bringing norms in line with modern linguistic practice and state tasks.
The second direction is the creation of a unified legal glossary. This will be a systematic database of terms of Ukrainian legislation, on which linguists and lawyers will work together. The goal is clear: to remove Russisms and outdated formulas that have been reproduced by inertia of Soviet law for decades.
National font as an element of sovereignty
Separate attention in the resolution is given to the visual aspect. The use of fonts of Russian origin — such as Peterburg or Izhitsa — is deemed unacceptable in official documents and on state awards.
Instead, it is proposed to develop and implement a national font. It should become part of the state identity and a symbol of sovereignty even at the level of graphic design of laws, decrees, and official forms.
The committee emphasizes: it is not only about language as a means of communication but also about forming an authentic legal space. Where form and content no longer depend on the legacy of the empire, but work for their own state and its future — as consistently noted by NAnews — News of Israel | Nikk.Agency.
