우크라이나의 소수민족과 언어 상황

A Study on Ethnic Minorities and Language Situation in Ukraine

The Russian Federation, which claims to be the guardian of Russian-speaking residents of Post Soviet independent countries, launched a “Special Military Operation” in February 2022. The ethnocentirc policy of the Ukrainian national elite, which has been strengthened since 2014, was recognized more painfully in Russian society, which experienced anger in the dissolution of the Soviet Union, and linguistic factors have important internal political implications, especially in relation to the need to support the legalization of the Ukrainian ruling elite in eastern and southern Ukraine (including Crimea). The aspect of external politics resulted in clashes with Russia depending on the degree of strengthening the Ukrainization process. The language problems expressed by the rejection of compromise sharpened the relationship between Russia and Ukraine. As a result, the policy of strengthening Ukraine and denying the existence of Russians and Russian language in Ukraine is uniformly violating the interests of other ethnic minorities, drawing backlash from residents of these ethnic minorities and their home countries. The most representative residents are Hungarians, Romanians, and Poles, whose home countries have long regarded the their diaspora as de facto indigenous people living in Ukraine and strongly demand the Ukrainian government to preserve their culture and language. Ukraine's response to the EU's support in the current stagnant and prolonged military conflict between Russia and Ukraine appears to be the enactment or amendment of laws that drive only Russians and Russian, and the promotion of anti-Russian policies, but it is clear that it will be more flexible and tolerant for other minorities.