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For decades, the Russian language has remained a widely-spoken language across much of Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Spoken by roughly 80 million people outside of Russia, the Russian language not only serves as a lingua franca, a common language which bridges the linguistic gap between different language speakers but as a symbol of Moscow’s continued influence. Today, however, this dominance seems to be slowly unravelling.
The war in Ukraine has particularly prompted a shift in the region, with several countries in the post-soviet space choosing to distance themselves from the Russian language. The move away from Russian is more than a gesture—it is deeply symbolic, representing a broader push for language decolonization and cultural independence from Russia.
But while progress is visible, it is far from uniform. For countries like Ukraine, the move away from Russian is much more urgent and existential. However, for others, such as Kazakhstan, the process is much slower and more complex, underscoring the varied experiences of how states grapple with their post-soviet legacies.
Russification and Language Suppression
The roots of Russian linguistic dominance in Eurasia extend back to the Russian imperial era. Beginning from the mid to late 1800s, Russia imposed Russian culture and language throughout the empire through a policy called Russification. Schools were required to teach in Russian, while local languages were marginalized or outright banned in formal education. Russification policies, therefore, were aimed at promoting Russia not alongside regional languages but rather at their expense.
Under Soviet Russian rule, Russification policies reached new levels, framing Russian as the “language of progress” and a unifying force for the emerging socialist union. It became the dominant language in government, education, and the workplace. Even where minority languages were officially recognized, people often treated them as secondary. By the time the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, Russia had already entrenched itself as the lingua franca across much of the Eurasian continent.
Yet, Russification never went uncontested. Resistance simmered in many regions. Throughout history, Ukrainians pushed to preserve their language and culture, despite growing suppression. Meanwhile, in the Baltics, such as Estonia, people fought and protested to keep their languages alive, even as Russian became dominant in the public sphere.
This resistance highlights why moving away from Russian today is not just an act of national resurgence but a form of decolonization aimed at reversing centuries of forced assimilation.
The Ukrainian Language and the Russo-Ukrainian War
Ukraine’s journey to linguistic decolonization has not been straightforward. Even before 2014, language was a contentious issue in the country, reflecting the country’s complicated history with its neighbour. While Ukrainian is the only official language, many Ukrainians are bilingual, with Russian remaining widely spoken, especially in many cities throughout the southern and eastern regions of Ukraine. Before 2014, Russian was even a language of instruction in several parts of the country and was very popular among social media users.
The annexation of Crimea and the war in Donbas in 2014 marked a turning point. Language became a political fault line, with the pro-Russian minority in the east opposing Kyiv’s efforts to promote Ukrainian. However, Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022 dramatically accelerated the linguistic shift. Across the country, even native Russian speakers have adopted Ukrainian as an act of defiance.
Even on social media, Russian over Ukrainian has declined significantly, with many choosing to use Ukrainian to communicate, especially on platforms such as X.
The Ukrainian government has also taken concrete steps, passing laws to promote Ukrainian in media, education, and public life. Russian-language books and monuments glorifying Soviet history are being removed and replaced by Ukrainian cultural symbols. This shift underscores a broader truth that language is not just a means of communication but a battlefield for identity.
Uzbekistan’s Cautious Approach to Russian
Like other Central Asian states, Uzbekistan was heavily influenced by Soviet policies of Russification, which left Russian as a dominant language in government, education, and media. While the country declared Uzbek its official language after independence in 1991, the transition to reducing Russian influence has been incomplete.
In 1995 the country introduced the amended Uzbek Language Law, which prioritized Uzbek in public administration and required its use in official documents. However, Russian has maintained a strong presence due to its widespread use in cities, higher education, and as a lingua franca for communicating with neighbouring states.
One of the most symbolic efforts toward de-Russification was Uzbekistan’s decision to fully transition from the Cyrillic to a Latin alphabet in 2021. Although this is an important step in the process, it does not seem to have significantly impacted reducing reliance on Russian.
In particular, Russian continues to play a significant role in Uzbekistan’s education system and business sectors. Many Uzbeks view Russian as a practical tool for economic and professional advancement. Although declining by number in 2024, many Uzbeks travel to Russia to work as seasonal workers, where wages are often much higher than back home. The popularity of Russian-language media and entertainment further reinforces its influence, particularly among the urban youth.
This dual reality, where Russian persists while Uzbek struggles to dominate, highlights the continued challenges of linguistic decolonization.
Kazakhstan- A stronghold for the Russian Language?
Kazakhstan, like Uzbekistan, was deeply Russified during the Tsarist and Soviet periods. Even after its independence, Russian remains a co-official language, dominating education, business, government, and society. Today, Russian is still spoken by at least half of the population, particularly in the north and populated city areas.
The Kazakh government has taken some gradual steps to promote the Kazakh language and, like Uzbekistan, is also planning to transition to the Latin alphabet. Importantly, the Kazakh government also declared its intent to increase the share of the state language on television and radio from 50% to 70% over the next several years. Yet, the overall trend of moving away from Russian has seen little success. Economic and political ties with Moscow and the educational and business benefits of knowing Russian further complicate efforts to reduce its use.
At the same time, there is a growing awareness among young Kazakhs about the importance of linguistic and cultural identity. Some grassroots movements encourage using Kazakh in daily life, and the government is very slowly investing in language education. Overall, however, Kazakhstan’s case illustrates the challenges of linguistic decolonization in a country where Russian remains very deeply entrenched.
The Role of Education and Media
A key way to aid the push for a linguistic transition could be through education. Russia is still a popular language of instruction, either as a first or second language. Transitioning away from Russian in this sphere could prove effective. Although activists and grassroots movements can play a role in reviving the national language, without government backing, little change will take place.
Media is another powerful tool. Television and other online platforms play a significant role in normalizing language use. Although difficult pragmatically, regional actors should try to increase interest in using local languages as a means of communication in the online realm. At the very least, official government correspondence should only be in the national language, not Russian.
Some countries, like Ireland, have taken steps to promote the Irish language. Due to British colonialism, the Irish language is spoken by less than half of the Irish population. To promote the language, the government began a twenty-year strategy that furthered the language in nine different areas, including media and technology.
A bottom-up approach may be more effective, where people, not governments, promote the language. If celebrities or influencers with enough followers can promote the language on social media, this may gradually lead to more people using the language.
The Long Road to Linguistic Independence
The move away from Russian in post-Soviet states is not just a linguistic trend—it is a profound act of decolonization. By prioritizing their native languages, these countries are reclaiming their histories and identities.
However, this process is going to be neither quick nor easy. It requires substantial investment in education, media, and cultural infrastructure. It also requires navigating a fine line between promoting the national language and moving away from Russian in a legal and socially acceptable manner. Governments and civil society must foster policies encouraging the practical and symbolic adoption of native languages, ensuring they become integral to both the public and private spheres.
While progress may be uneven, the shared goal to establish linguistic landscapes that reflect their unique histories and aspirations rather than the vestiges of an imposed past is important. The path to linguistic decolonization is long and requires sustained commitment. Still, it is also a necessary step in achieving genuine independence and cultural self-determination in a region long dominated by Russia.
Edited by Chelsea Bean
