Deputies of the Poltava City Council officially adopted a decision to introduce a moratorium on the public use of Russian-language cultural products. This was reported by the Secretariat of the Commissioner for the Protection of the State Language. The new regulation is the latest in a series of similar decisions made at the level of local communities in Ukraine.
Protection of the information space
According to the text of the document, the decision was initiated by the need to protect the Ukrainian information space from the hybrid influence of the aggressor state. The explanatory note states that the goal of the moratorium is to prevent attempts to hinder the strengthening of national identity, as well as to ensure the preservation of culture, traditions, customs, and historical memory.
Where the ban applies
The restrictions cover a wide range of public spaces. In particular, the use of prohibited content is inadmissible in:
- Public transport;
- Public catering establishments;
- Cultural institutions;
- Trading venues;
- Other places of public use.
What is exactly banned
The moratorium concerns the public use of a wide range of materials. Russian-language books, musical works, films, and theatrical performances have been placed on the "black list." Concert programs and cultural-educational events are also subject to restrictions.
Trend at the local level
Poltava is not the only city to adopt such a decision. During 2025, similar moratoriums were introduced in several other regions. The first step in the Odesa region was taken by the Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi City Council on March 25. In early April, measures were adopted by five communities in the Mykolaiv region. In late May, the moratorium was introduced in Kremenchuk, and in December 2025, a similar decision was adopted by the Bilohorodka City Council in the Kyiv region.