As Ukraine marks the Day of Ukrainian Writing and Language, we honour the richness, beauty, and uniqueness of Ukrainian, which has carried our national identity through centuries.

Russia has tried to erase our language just as it tried to erase our history and culture. The Valuev Circular, the Ems Ukaz, the persecution of Ukrainian writers and scholars, Soviet Russification – all of this was part of a systemic policy aimed at destroying Ukrainian identity. 

Today, that same policy continues in the form of Russian aggression: Ukrainian signs are removed in the temporarily occupied territories, Ukrainian books are confiscated, education in Ukrainian is banned, and people are persecuted for speaking Ukrainian.

But the Ukrainian language has outlived empires – and it will live for generations to come. 

Our language is a matter of national security, and for us, defending it means defending our future. 

Language is the right to be ourselves – and we will protect this right.