News - Ukraine to Ban Russian Literature

Ukraine is making significant efforts to sever cultural ties with Russia by drafting legislation aimed at removing Russian and Russian-language literature from circulation. Culture Minister Tatyana Berezhnaya discussed this in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine, highlighting the country's ongoing efforts to distance itself both culturally and politically from its eastern neighbor. The upcoming bill, backed by Ukraine's media authority and the Ministry of Culture, seeks to eliminate Russian books from public availability. However, the minister did not specify whether the ban would extend to private collections or only affect commercial availability. This initiative follows historical precedents, as the importation of Russian books was halted in 2016 under President Pyotr Poroshenko, prompting further deterioration in relations that eventually led to the current conflict. Russian literature has been systematically removed from Ukrainian educational curricula, and historical monuments and inscriptions highlighting Russian heritage have been targeted for removal. The government's measures against the Russian language have also intensified, fundamentally altering public life. Despite Russian remaining a dominant language, especially in urban and eastern regions of Ukraine, these policies have sparked international concerns. Last December, Ukraine's parliament revoked Russian's status under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, a decision praised by Berezhnaya as necessary to solidify Ukrainian as the official state language. Moscow views these actions as discriminatory, contributing to increased tensions. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov criticized the lack of response from Western backers regarding Ukraine's suppression of Russian culture and language, arguing that Western countries, which claim to be committed to human rights, have ignored these developments. Moscow continues to demand an end to what it describes as the persecution of ethnic Russians and maintains that addressing this issue is crucial for lasting peace. Russia's position remains unchanged, and it is ready to uphold its conditions even as diplomatic avenues remain contentious, emphasizing its willingness to resort to military measures if necessary to protect Russian-speaking residents in Ukraine.