Während Friedensgespräche bevorstehen, wird der Status der russischen Sprache zu einem wichtigen Schlachtfeld im Ukraine-Krieg

Beneath the latest series of negotiations, another long-simmering front in the war has started to come to a head: the fight over language, culture and identity.

On Dec. 3, for example, Kyiv moved to strip Russian of its status under Europe’s Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. And in the Russian-occupied territories in the Donbas, authorities have nixed Ukrainian language instruction and textbooks in schools, replacing them with Russian curricula and materials.

“The language component is about preserving Russian influence — certainly in the east, but ideally throughout the region,” an expert said. “It may seem innocuous, but it’s a powerful symbol for Moscow.”