At a meeting of the working group, participants reviewed the draft Regional Program to Promote the Use of the Ukrainian Language as the State Language in All Spheres of Public Life for 2027–2030.
The head of the working group, Deputy Head of the Regional State Administration Oleksandr Shevchenko, emphasized that ensuring the use of the Ukrainian language is an important component of state policy, a factor in national security, social unity, the preservation of cultural heritage, and the affirmation of Ukrainian national and civic identity. He stressed that regional language policy must take into account the current needs of communities, promote the expansion of the scope of the official language’s use, and ensure the implementation of state language policy within the region.
The draft Program is comprehensive and cross-sectoral in nature and covers key areas of public life, including education, culture, youth policy, sports, healthcare, social protection, the economy, housing and utilities, urban planning, investment activities, information policy, and the activities of local self-government bodies.
The document identifies six strategic directions and provides for the implementation of 38 measures. Among the priorities are strengthening the status of the Ukrainian language as the state language, ensuring compliance with language legislation, promoting the study of the Ukrainian language, developing a network of language courses, improving the quality of teaching the state language in educational institutions, and expanding the scope of its use.
The program provides for language courses, conversation clubs, competitions, festivals, themed events, informational and educational campaigns, the expansion of library collections with Ukrainian-language literature, and support for online platforms and language communities. Special attention is given to the use of digital tools, which will ensure that the activities are accessible to residents of the region regardless of their location.
Performance indicators have been established for each of the 38 activities, which will allow for an objective assessment of the Program’s effectiveness. The draft also complies with the requirements of the Law of Ukraine “On Ensuring the Functioning of the Ukrainian Language as the State Language” and the State Targeted National-Cultural Program for Ensuring the Comprehensive Development and Functioning of the Ukrainian Language as the State Language for the Period until 2030.
Following the discussion, the working group members endorsed the draft Regional Program and recommended that it be submitted for public discussion by publishing it on the official website of the Donetsk Regional State Administration.