---
title: "Fine for a cartoon: a teacher in Kyiv was punished for violating the language law"
description: "A teacher in Kyiv was fined 3,400 hryvnias for showing a cartoon in Russian. The trigger was a complaint from a parent who is a combatant. The teacher cited educational purposes as the reason, but the law left no room for choice. 🇺🇦📚"
date: 2026-07-21T14:46:32.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/fine-for-a-cartoon-teacher-in-kyiv-punished-for-violating-language-law
tags: [kyiv, ukraine, language-law, education]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Fine for a cartoon: a teacher in Kyiv was punished for violating the language law

![Screenshot of post by Commissioner for Protection of State Language about fine imposed on Kyiv teacher for using Russian-language cartoon in school](https://xab.info/media/2026/07/21/shtraf-za-multfilm-v-kieve-uchitelnicu-nakazali-za-russkij-yazyk/shtraf-za-multfilm-v-kieve-uchitelnicu-nakazali-za-russkij-yazyk-1.webp)

An administrative case against a teacher at one of Kyiv's municipal schools has concluded. The teacher was fined 3,400 hryvnias for showing students animated content in Russian. The incident served as grounds for sanctions under the Law "On Ensuring the Functioning of the Ukrainian Language as the State Language".

### How the events unfolded

The inspection was triggered by an official complaint from a parent whose child is a participant in combat operations. The complaint stated that during the educational process, the teacher used videos in Russian. After reviewing the complaint, the authorized body issued a ruling to impose a fine.

During the proceedings, the teacher explained that showing the cartoon was for "educational purposes." She noted that no objections were raised by the students regarding the material used during the lesson.

### Legal grounds and norms

The protocol was drawn up under Article 188-52 of the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offenses (CUoAP). This provision regulates liability for violations of legislation on the state language. According to Article 21 of the Law "On Ensuring the Functioning of the Ukrainian Language as the State Language," the language of the educational process is Ukrainian.

The use of other languages is permissible only in cases provided for by special legislation on national minorities and indigenous peoples. Compliance with these norms is monitored by the Commissioner for the Protection of the State Language.

### Extent of liability

For a first-time violation of legislation on the state language, fines ranging from 200 to 300 non-taxable minimum incomes of citizens are prescribed. In monetary terms, this amounts to between 3,400 and 5,100 hryvnias. In this case, the court applied the minimum fine amount.