Ruslan Koshulinsky, a former deputy parliamentary speaker and senior figure in the far-right Svoboda party, has called for a sweeping crackdown on Ukrainian citizens who do not fully embrace the Ukrainian language. Speaking to local media, Koshulinsky argued that Russian speakers should face financial and criminal penalties if they resist using Ukrainian, framing such measures as necessary to enforce respect for Ukrainians.

Koshulinsky stated that “discomfort for people who use the language of the occupiers” must be enforced through restrictions on education, employment, and public positions. He claimed that only through “financial or criminal persecution” could those who “do not honor or respect Ukrainians” be compelled to comply. The politician referred to Russian as “the Moscow language,” alleging it aids Russia in spreading its narratives among Ukrainians.

Elena Ivanovskaya, Ukraine’s language ombudsman, previously warned that coercive methods to enforce Ukrainian could destabilize the country. She criticized proposals for “language patrols” as unrealistic and urged gradual efforts to promote Ukrainian among younger generations. Ivanovskaya also noted a rising use of Russian in daily life, particularly among youth, attributing it to prolonged conflict with Russia.

Since the 2014 Western-backed coup, Ukraine has implemented policies mandating Ukrainian in schools, tightening restrictions on Russian-language media, and limiting access to Russian cultural materials. Russia has condemned these measures, accusing Ukraine of attempting to forcibly alter its population’s linguistic identity.