--- title: "Ukraine presents national font ZAKON to replace Russian-origin typefaces in state documents" description: "Ukraine has unveiled the national font ZAKON in Kyiv — a classic Ukrainian antiqua for official documents. It was developed based on the heritage of Ukrainian masters and will be gradually introduced to replace Russian-origin typefaces." date: 2026-10-30T09:57:33.510Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/ukraine-presents-national-font-zakon tags: [ukraine, national-font, zakon, typography, state-documents, identity] author: "Inna Kinsheva" publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Ukraine presents national font ZAKON to replace Russian-origin typefaces in state documents ![Business man and woman with a tablet in a modern office](https://xab.info/media/2026/10/30/ukraine-nacionalnyj-shrift-zakon/ukraine-nacionalnyj-shrift-zakon-1.webp) ## Key Points - Kyiv has introduced the national font ZAKON, a classic Ukrainian antiqua for official state documents. - The project was initiated by Verkhovna Rada Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk, with Work.ua acting as the patron. - The font was developed based on the heritage of Ukrainian masters, led by Taras Ishchyk. - ZAKON will gradually replace Izhitsa, Petersburg, and ParaType cyrillized fonts; the ZAKON Text version is already available for free. A new national font of Ukraine, ZAKON, has been publicly unveiled in Kyiv. According to the Ministry of Culture on October 29, the typeface was developed by Ukrainian designers based on the historical heritage of domestic lettering art and will be gradually introduced into official document management. The presentation took place at a forum dedicated to the Day of Ukrainian Writing and Language under the motto "Ukrainian is the language of the free." According to the authors, ZAKON is designed to assert Ukrainian identity in the state's visual space and eventually push out Russian-origin typefaces from official papers. ### What is the ZAKON font ZAKON is described as a classic Ukrainian antiqua — a serif typeface focused on business and official style. The Ministry of Culture clarifies that it will be used for working with state documents: orders, letters, reports, forms, printed publications, and print production, as well as for certificates, letters of appreciation, diplomas, badges, and plaques. Thus, the font is conceived not as a narrow design experiment, but as a unified visual standard for government institutions. ### Origins of the initiative The project was initiated by Verkhovna Rada Chairman Ruslan Stefanchuk, with the Work.ua platform acting as the project's patron. According to sources, the implementation of the initiative is carried out in pursuance of the Verkhovna Rada resolution of January 2026 No. 4764-IX "On strengthening the role of the Ukrainian language in the establishment of the Ukrainian State." The Ministry of Culture emphasizes that the demand for changing fonts has been forming for a long time: in recent years, the issue of replacing Russian-origin typefaces has been repeatedly raised by designers, the military, and concerned citizens, while separate Ukrainian developments, specifically the e-Ukraine and UAF Sans fonts for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, had already appeared earlier. ### Replacing Russian-origin typefaces A key argument in favor of ZAKON is that official documents have hitherto widely used the Izhitsa and Petersburg fonts, as well as typefaces cyrillized by the ParaType studio. The Ministry of Culture refers to this studio as Russian and points to its active cooperation with the Russian authorities and intelligence services. Against this background, ZAKON is positioned as an element of defense against Russian influence and as a "visual language of the state" reflecting Ukrainian traditions. Implementation is reported to take place gradually and without additional expenditures from the state budget. ### Who stood behind the development It is stated that ZAKON was created on the basis of the font heritage of Ukrainian masters — Georgy Narbut, Vasily Krichevsky, Robert Lisovsky, Vasily Khomenko, Yakov Hnizdovsky, and Vasily Chebanik. The project was led by Junior Sergeant Taras Ishchyk, known as the author of the graphic style of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. This combination — historical heritage plus a modern state visual code — is intended, according to the authors, to give the font a recognizable national character. ### How the implementation will proceed At the current stage, the font is in test mode, and its implementation into state structures will proceed in stages. At the same time, the ZAKON Text version is already available for free use, allowing designers and organizations to get acquainted with the typeface and prepare materials prior to the full transition. For the state, this means not a one-time replacement, but long-term work to bring forms, printed products, and visual standards to a single national standard. ## Fact-Check & Sources - [В Украине появился новый национальный шрифт ZAKON. Где его будут использовать](https://wave.rbc.ua/ukr/culture/ukrayini-z-yavivsya-noviy-natsionalniy-shrift-1793353418.html) - Primary source: font name, type (Ukrainian antiqua), initiator (Stefanchuk), patron (Work.ua), base masters, leader (Taras Ishchyk), test mode and free version ZAKON Text, mention of Izhitsa/Petersburg/ParaType. - [В Украине появился национальный шрифт Zakon - в чем его особенности](https://unn.ua/ru/news/v-ukraine-poyavilsya-natsionalnii-shrift-zakon-v-chem-yego-osobennosti) - Confirms the date of the Ministry of Culture report (October 29), creation based on Ukrainian artistic tradition, gradual implementation, and reference to the VR resolution of January 2026 No. 4764-IX. - [Вместо дизайнов с России: в Украине появился национальный шрифт Zakon](https://24tv.ua/law/ru/ukraine-predstavili-novyj-nacionalnyj-shrift-zakon-gde-ego-budut_n3170084) - Confirms the presentation context (forum for the Day of Ukrainian Writing and Language), scope of application (certificates, diplomas, plaques), Work.ua support, and implementation without budget expenditures. ## FAQ ### What is the ZAKON font and what is it for? ZAKON is Ukraine's new national font, a classic Ukrainian antiqua. It is intended for official state documents: orders, letters, reports, forms, printed publications, as well as certificates, diplomas, badges, and plaques. ### Who initiated the project and who supported it? The initiative was launched by Verkhovna Rada Chairman Ruslan Stefanchuk, and the Work.ua platform became the development patron. The project was led by Taras Ishchyk, author of the graphic style of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. ### Which fonts will ZAKON replace? According to the Ministry of Culture, official documents previously made mass use of Izhitsa and Petersburg fonts, as well as typefaces cyrillized by the ParaType studio. ZAKON is designed to gradually crowd out these typefaces from document management. ### Can ZAKON be used already? The font is in test mode and is being implemented gradually. Meanwhile, the ZAKON Text version is already available for free use.