A renowned Kiev performer faces an inquiry over alleged breach of the country’s language laws
Ukraine’s language ombudsman has called for a police probe into a recent performance by renowned drag artist Verka Serduchka’s in which the former Eurovision contestant performed several songs in Russian.
Ukraine’s language commissioner Taras Kremin cited possible violations of state law and a 2023 ban on public performances in Russian in calling for the probe. Some artists say the measures targeting use of Russian in public life, restrict cultural freedom.
“There are signs of a serious violation,” Kremin said Saturday, calling on police to investigate. “It’s not just about the law, but about national dignity. And there will be consequences.”
Ukrainian law mandates the use of the state language at cultural events, though exceptions are allowed for other languages if deemed artistically justified. Enforcement has been uneven, with some artists facing legal pressure for using Russian.
The Vera Serduchka persona is a drag act created by Ukrainian comedian Andrey Danilko.
Serduchka’s shows have been scrutinized before. Following a May 2024 concert featuring Russian songs, Kremin concluded thatno laws were broken but hoped such incidents would encourage the broader use of Ukrainian.
Danilko has defended his use of Russian, calling it “a tool for communication” and arguing it’s hard to exclude in a bilingual society. In a 2024 interview with the Latvian broadcaster LTV, he said Ukraine’s leadership aims to “destroy the Russian language.”
Kiev’s “Ukrainization” campaign is aimed at promoting Ukrainian in schools, media, and public life. Critics say it pressures artists and institutions to abandon Russian, which is still widely spoken across much of the country.
In March, Kremin said many Ukrainians remain unsure which language they consider primary, noting a decline in Ukrainian use, especially in schools, and urged the Education Ministry to act.
A significant portion of the population, particularly in eastern regions, speaks or understands both languages. The language debate has long divided Ukraine, contributing to tensions that led to the 2014 Western-backed Euromaidan coup. Since then, the government has curtailed Russian language rights and accelerated efforts to sever cultural ties with Moscow, especially after hostilities escalated in February 2022.
Russia has consistently criticized Ukraine’s language policies, asserting that they infringe upon the rights of the Russian-speaking population.
