For centuries, Russia has tried to cancel every language and cultural difference from its neighboring countries. Ukraine has been one of the most targeted ones, with constant repressions over language and cultural freedom to create one big homogenous nation under Russian control. Can this mechanism be seen as a war weapon? How threatening and powerful is it?

Russia’s strategy to undermine cultures, languages, and historical heritages dates back to the Tsarist Empire, in the 18th century. During that time, Ukraine, Poland, and other Eastern European countries were under Russian imperial rule. Dr. Mateusz Kamionka, teacher of political sciences at Jagiellonian University in Kraków, Poland, explains how the root of the conflict is found in colonialism. The desire to conquest and impose one common language and culture throughout all territories, resulted in restricting other national identities and freedoms. 

“In the 19th century, when the spring of nations was raging across Europe, in Russia all manifestations of “nationalisms” of the enslaved countries were being destroyed,” says Dr. Kamionka, punctuating how this practice was a world-spread mechanism conducted by all colonizing nations. 

FROM THE TSARIST EMPIRE TO THE SOVIET UNION

Ukraine was under Russian command during the Tsarist Empire and through the 20th century, as a territory of the Soviet Union. In an article for The Kyiv Independent, the historian Kyrylo Halushko states that although Ukrainian culture and identity were not banned, they were promoted as rural, and often ridiculed. Meanwhile, Russian was seen as superior as Dr. Kamionka also points out. 

Nevertheless, this acceptance only lasted until the beginning of the 1930s. Once Stalin took over control of the Soviet Union, Ukrainian, among other nationalities, such as Polish, Belarussian, and Kazakh were strongly repressed.

After the fall of the Soviet Union, the situation seemed to be part of the past, since Ukraine obtained independence. It could seem as if they had achieved what they had been fighting for centuries: an independent nation with Ukrainian language and culture as the core. However, centuries of colonialism cannot be easily erased. Although Russia stopped directly suppressing Ukrainians liberties, it kept on appropriating artists, and historical figures. In fact, a study conducted by Translators Without Borders shows how in some bordering regions, the main spoken language kept on being Russian, even until today.

MODERN IMPERIALISM ASPIRATIONS

“It is necessary to note the post-colonial aspirations of the Russian Federation and their attempts to rebuild the Empire” claims Dr. Mateusz Kamionka when analyzing the situation of Russia’s actual government. Despite 30 years of apparent cultural freedom in most of Ukraine, in 2014, after the Russian invasion of Crimea, it became more evident its imposition on the Ukrainian identity. 

In 2021 Vladimir Putin, current president of Russia, stated in an article released by the Kremlin that “Ukraine has never existed”, admitting publicly his imperial vision of post-soviet countries. “When he admitted it, he undermined Ukrainian identity, canceling its cultural independence from Russia’s,” says Janusz Mucha, sociologist and retired teacher of the Jagiellonian University in Kraków. 

Russia’s intentions became more than clear after February 24th, 2022 when the invasion crossed the previously occupied territories to the west. Analyzing UNESCO’s data, Magdalena Pasikowska-Schnass, member of the research department of the European Parliament, conducted a study on Russia’s Cultural war on Ukraine demonstrating how attacking one’s cultural heritage is a strategic war weapon. In it, she shows how from February 2022 to September of that same year, 186 cultural sites were damaged by Russian attacks.ç

“I DIDN’T START SPEAKING UKRAINIAN UNTIL TWO YEARS AGO”

Daria Selikhova

Daria Selikhova grew up in Sumy, a city 20 kilometers (12,42 miles) from the Russian border. She confesses how despite being born and raised in Ukraine she didn’t start using Ukrainian as her first language until two years ago. 

Daria describes how she did not learn any Ukrainian history at school and was mainly taught about Russia as a whole. She feels she has been disconnected from her own culture and heritage all her life. When the full-scale started, almost three years ago, she decided to start embracing her native language and educating herself on Ukrainian history and culture. 

“It’s very important that we keep our culture divided from Russian,” states Daria. She believes it is important to keep both nations divided while acknowledging each other, but without mixing them. “We are not Russia, we have our language, our traditions, culture…” she adds. 

Daria says how she has discovered a lot of old Ukrainian figures such as artists, and thinkers whom she thought to be Russian. “Since the beginning Russia has been killing our culture and appropriating important people, as if they were their own,” says Daria.

Dr. Mateusz Kamionko talks about the specific case of Nikolai Gogol, a Ukrainian writer from the beginning of the 19th century. He grew up in one of the occupied territories, therefore, he used Russian as his chosen publishing language. For many decades, Russia had appropriated his name and status as their own, but later, it was discovered that he was truly Ukrainian. Gogol’s story is just one of many other artists’ names that were thought to be Russian due to the persecution of Ukrainian identity. 

Organizations such as Ukraīner, a Ukrainian broadcasting media platform, have been working lately to reappropriate long-lost cultural icons. “Decolonisation” is their latest project, which aims to put Ukrainian culture in the center. Talking about forgotten figures, and bringing experts on the matter to discuss Russia’s colonization. The first article of the series exposes a list of artists who were stolen or banned by Russian power, in it there is Nikolai Gogol amongst others. 

“TALK, TALK, TALK. THAT’S THE ONLY WAY TO NOT FORGET UKRAINE”

Daria Selikhova

Daria says the only way not to forget Ukraine, its language, history, and culture, is to talk about it. “It is important to talk about it, with Ukrainians, with Polish people, with international people,” she says. 

Daria escaped Ukraine with her family back in 2022, a few months after the invasion. She first spent six months in Italy, and then, they decided to move to Poland for better job opportunities. She remarks on the importance of keeping their culture alive no matter the distance, which is why she started volunteering at the Ukrainian Centre of Culture and Development in Wrocław (CUKR).

Established in 2016 under the organization Foundation Ukraine, the center revolves around embracing Ukrainian culture while helping newcomers integrate into Polish society. On its schedule, it holds discussions, language courses, concerts, and one-on-one consultancy on personal and legal matters. 

The goal of CUKR is to keep Ukrainian culture alive no matter the distance, while also engaging with people from different places. Although the majority of the workers and visitors are Ukrainian, the center is open to anyone who needs help or simply wants to meet people and become part of a community. 

Poland is home to the third largest Ukrainian population, nearly one million, following Russia and Germany. Over 200,000 Ukrainians live in the Polish city of Wrocław, making it easier to find a community as a Ukrainian migrant. CUKR is located there, holding many activities that unite the community.

On December 1st, 2024, the center carried out a series of activities surrounding Ukrainian Christmas traditions. From a market where individuals and other organizations sold traditional and handmade products to an open discussion about their Christmas traditions, making Ukrainian culture the main topic of the day. The act concluded with a choir performance, singing traditional Ukrainian carols. 

As Daria emphasizes, preserving Ukraine’s culture seems to be a matter of survival. By reclaiming language, honoring forgotten figures, and uniting through initiatives like CUKR, Ukrainians continue to resist cultural erasure. In this silent war, their voices, traditions, and stories remain the most powerful weapons.

“Ой, зелене жито, зелене”, sung at a choir performance at CUKR on December 1st, 2024.