38% of Ukrainians believe that the russian language should be studied in schools. This is evidenced by the results of a survey by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS), Ukrainian News Agency reports.
Thus, when asked about the time that should be allocated to studying the russian language in Ukrainian-language schools: 58% of respondents answered that it should not be studied at all; 29% - the same amount of time or less than for studying foreign languages; 6% - less than for studying the Ukrainian language, but more than for foreign languages; 3% - the same amount of time as for studying the Ukrainian language; 4% - answered that it is difficult for them to say.
The study was conducted from February 14 to March 4, 2025 by telephone interviews based on a random sample of mobile numbers. 1,029 adult respondents living in all regions of Ukraine, except for temporarily occupied territories, were surveyed. The statistical error of the sample does not exceed 4.1%.
KIIS notes that it has been studying attitudes towards studying the russian language in Ukrainian-language schools since the 1990s. In 2023, after russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, a significant increase in those who oppose studying the russian language in general was recorded. If in 2019 81% believed that the russian language should be studied in schools (although the scope of study was debatable), then in 2023 their share decreased to 42%, while the share of those who are against studying the russian language in general increased from 8% to 52%.
In 2025, the share of those who believe that russian should not be studied at all in Ukrainian-language schools in Ukraine continues to increase - in 2023 there were 52%, now - 58%. At the same time, the number of those who believe that russian should be studied in schools has decreased from 42% to 38%.
At the same time, among these 38% who believe that russian should be studied, only 9% say that it should be studied at the level of the Ukrainian language or at least at a higher level than other foreign languages (for example, English). The remaining 29% believe that it should be studied at the level of other foreign languages or even at a lower level.
As Ukrainian News Agency earlier reported, according to a survey by KIIS, 13% of citizens speak russian at home, another 19% - Ukrainian and russian.
The Verkhovna Rada proposes to completely ban the use of russian in schools and universities, including communication during breaks.
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