According to the results of a recent sociological study, young people in Ukraine are increasingly using the Ukrainian language in various aspects of life, including communication with friends, in public places, at work, and in higher education institutions. This indicates the growing popularity of the native language among the younger generation.
This is reported by Finway
Regional Features of Ukrainian Language Use
The survey conducted by the sociological group “Rating” at the initiative of the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine shows that 73% of young people in the country communicate in Ukrainian, 7% in Russian, and 17% use both languages equally. The choice of language primarily depends on the region of residence: residents of western and central regions more often choose Ukrainian both in everyday life and in public spaces.
Sociologists also analyzed the youth’s attitude towards Russian cultural products. 40% of respondents fully support a complete ban on such content in Ukraine, while another 18% somewhat support this idea. At the same time, 21% of those surveyed do not support the ban, and 18% somewhat do not support it. Over the past year, there has been a decrease in the number of young people advocating for a complete ban on Russian cultural products, especially among teenagers: while in 2024, 52% of young people aged 14-19 supported this idea, in 2025, only 28% did.
Research Methodology and Additional Influencing Factors
“Overall, the research was conducted in four stages: desk research; a nationally representative survey of youth residing in Ukraine; a survey of Ukrainian youth living in certain EU countries after 2022; and qualitative research with various groups of youth conducted through focus group interviews. The study indicated that the most recent available data from the State Statistics Service of Ukraine as of January 1, 2022, was used to calculate the sample of youth residing in Ukraine. Additionally, young people who were serving in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, in temporarily occupied territories, or within 50 km of the front line were not included in the quantitative research sample. Experts also noted that during the research in Ukraine, power outages were implemented.”
Researchers emphasized that the most recent statistical data were used for sample formation; however, youth serving in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, in temporarily occupied territories, or in combat zones were not surveyed. Moreover, during the information gathering in Ukraine, power outages were in effect, which could have affected the research process.
It is also noted that in 2025, representatives of the Verkhovna Rada highlighted the importance of investing in modern communication formats, particularly in meme creation, as the social network TikTok has a significant influence on shaping the worldview of youth, sometimes even greater than that of parents or teachers.