A high-profile violation of language legislation in the higher education sector has been recorded in Kyiv. The Secretariat of the Commissioner for the Protection of the State Language has drawn up an administrative protocol against the head of a structural unit of one of the capital's state universities. The reason was the use of the Russian language during official duties and internal communication.
Dictaphone recording and the Code of Administrative Offenses
The incident occurred during a phone call between the official and a citizen regarding document circulation and the registration of official appeals. During the consultation, the department head switched to Russian and also used it when addressing her colleague in the office at the same time.
The woman who called recorded the entire dialogue on a dictaphone and sent the audio file to the office of the language ombudsman. An inspection conducted by a representative of the Commissioner, Ihor Spyrydonov, officially established the fact of the offense. A protocol was drawn up against the official under Part 1 of Article 188-52 of the Code of Administrative Offenses for non-compliance with the requirements of Article 12 of the relevant Law of Ukraine.
According to the regulations, the Ukrainian language is the only working language for enterprises and institutions of state ownership. The unit head now faces a fine ranging from 3,400 to 5,100 hryvnias.
Total control before the academic year
The case at the capital university became part of a large-scale campaign to cleanse the educational space. In August 2026, the office of the language ombudsman moved to the strictest control measures. Previously, the department headed by Yelena Ivanovska officially equated school and lyceum chats of parents and teachers with the public sphere.
From this month, the use of a non-state language in messengers (Viber, Telegram) when discussing the educational process will also result in similar fines of up to 5,100 hryvnias for participants. Previously, teachers in Kyiv were fined for using the Russian language in lessons and showing a fragment of a cartoon.
Legal consequences and the department's position
"The use of the language of the aggressor state while performing official duties in educational institutions, especially higher education, is fundamentally unacceptable," commented Ihor Spyrydonov on the incident, adding that control over internal documentation and the speech of teachers in Kyiv universities will be increased manifold.
A repeated violation within a year will entail an automatic fine of up to 8,500 hryvnias or dismissal from state service. The Ombudsman's Office emphasizes that, given the martial law and the start of the new academic year, compliance with language legislation is a priority of state policy.
