This annual linguistic initiative, which traditionally takes place on 27 October – Ukrainian Literacy and Language Day – has once again united Ukrainians around their love for their native language. Donetsk Oblast also took part in the All-Ukrainian Radio Dictation for National Unity – 2026. Among the participants were servicemen defending the country on the front line and supporting it behind the lines, schoolchildren and students, representatives of the Donetsk Oblast Regional Youth Congress, athletes, veterans of the War for Ukraine’s Independence, workers from various sectors, and older generations – everyone united by a love for the Ukrainian language, respect for national literature and an unbreakable bond with Ukraine.
Residents of the Donetsk region, many of whom were forced to evacuate due to the war and now live in various parts of Ukraine, also took part in the radio dictation. After all, one’s native language knows no borders: it unites people regardless of where they are, their age or profession; it helps to maintain a connection with one’s homeland, to feel mutual support and to cherish shared values. Even far from home, the Ukrainian language remains an important part of our identity and a spiritual pillar that strengthens the unity of Ukrainians.
The National Unity Radio Dictation is much more than a test of literacy. It is an annual tradition that brings together millions of Ukrainians, allows us to feel a sense of community, and reminds us of the importance of our mother tongue as the foundation of national identity, cultural heritage and spiritual unity.
We would like to express our special gratitude to our servicemen and women, who defend Ukraine, its freedom, independence and the right of Ukrainians to speak their native language every day. Thanks to your courage, resilience and self-sacrifice, we are able to preserve our traditions, cherish the Ukrainian language and feel a sense of unity, wherever we may be.
The text for this year’s radio dictation, entitled ‘The Letter That Never Ends’, was written by the Ukrainian writer and veteran of the Russian-Ukrainian war, Artur Dron. The text was read as a duet by Artur Proydakov, a teacher of Ukrainian language and literature, and Dasha Astafieva, a community activist and volunteer.
In the National Unity Radio Dictation, there are those who write without mistakes and those who are still honing their skills, but there are no losers. After all, the greatest victory lies in taking part, in feeling a sense of unity and in realising that the Ukrainian language lives within each of us. And as long as we cherish our language, we preserve what unites us as a single Ukrainian nation.