Parents Will Be Fined for Speaking Russian in School Chat Rooms, Says Ombudswoman
The requirement to use the Ukrainian language applies not only to classes but also to communication between teachers, students, and parents, provided it relates to the organization of the educational process. For violations of language legislation, parents, in particular, may face a warning or a fine of up to 11,900 hryvnias.
The language ombudswoman emphasized that parents are official participants in the educational process.
Therefore, communication in parent chat groups and correspondence with teachers and school administrators regarding the organization of instruction falls within the public educational sphere.
Accordingly, such communication must take place in Ukrainian. At the same time, the language requirements do not apply to parents’ private communications that are not related to the educational process.
“Communication among participants in the educational process (parents, caregivers, teachers, school administrators, and students) in work and parent groups related to the organization of instruction is not private—it concerns education as a public sphere of social life, and therefore must take place in the official language,” the statement reads.
Olena Ivanovska noted that the educational process is not limited to classroom instruction.
The requirement to use the official language also applies to:
- teachers’ communication with students and parents;
- extracurricular activities;
- recesses;
- school staff and parent chat groups;
- correspondence with school administrators regarding education.
Thus, the use of the Ukrainian language in such situations is a legal requirement, not the personal choice of a specific teacher.
The language ombudswoman’s statement also reminds readers of the consequences for violating language legislation in the field of education.
For a first violation, the following may be imposed:
- a warning;
- or a fine ranging from 3,400 to 5,100 hryvnias.
If the violation is repeated within a year, the fine ranges from 8,500 to 11,900 hryvnias.
Thus, in the event of a repeat violation, the maximum fine can reach 11,900 hryvnias.
The Language Ombudswoman reminded that, in accordance with the law, the language of instruction in educational institutions is the state language. Educators must use Ukrainian while performing their official duties.
At the same time, the law guarantees representatives of Ukraine’s indigenous peoples and national minorities the right to study their respective languages.
According to Ivanovska’s explanation, these guarantees do not apply to the Russian language as the language of an aggressor state.
Olena Ivanovska urged educators to calmly and politely explain the requirements of language legislation to parents.
She stated that the use of the Ukrainian language in communication related to the educational process should be viewed not as a personal demand by the teacher, but as compliance with a legal requirement.
This is stated in an address by Olena Ivanovska, Commissioner for the Protection of the State Language, to education sector employees.
In addition, a bill has been introduced in the Verkhovna Rada that would ban Russian-language music in the service sector and significantly increase penalties for violations. The bill is currently under consideration by parliament.
In the first half of 2026, specialists from the State Service of Ukraine for Food Safety and Consumer Protection identified 1,075 violations of the specific requirements of the Law of Ukraine “On Advertising” and opened corresponding cases.
