The usage and status of the language is the subject of political disputes. Ukrainian is the country’s only state language since the adoption of the 1996 Constitution, which prohibits an official bilingual system at state level but also guarantees the free development, use and protection of Russian and other languages of national minorities.
This was changed by a new law in 2017 that only allows the use of Ukrainian in secondary schools and higher. Higher education institutions in Ukraine generally use Ukrainian as the language of instruction. In 2017 a new Law on Education was passed which restricted the use of Russian as a language of instruction.
According to Ukrainan Education Act, it is allowed to create classes with Russian language of instruction up to 5th year of education if there is a demand for that from parents.
Ever since the Language law was adopted in Ukraine, everywhere on papers, visual ads, company documents, bills, even menus should be used Ukrainian. Ukrainian must as well be spoken in all governmental and public organizations (even post office).
The restriction means Ukrainian language is now the formal language of instruction over other languages while other languages are consider foreign. Russian language was never banned in Ukrainian schools. It has mainly been a foreign language, no one ever banned learning any language in Ukraine, but the official language of Ukraine is Ukrainian.
Children schooling in Ukraine have always had an opportunity to learn English, French, Spanish, Turkish, and Arabic, including Russia.There was never any oppression of the Russian language in Ukraine, but the one and only official language of the country is Ukrainian.
