A Russian cartoon shown to a first-grade class cost the teacher a 3,400-hryvnia fine

The Commissioner for the Protection of the State Language Olena Ivanovska fined a teaching staff member of one of the city’s lyceums 3,400 hryvnias for violating the requirements of language legislation.

This was reported by the Office of the Commissioner for the Protection of the State Language on 21 July 2026.

Violations of the requirements of Article 21 of the Law of Ukraine “On Ensuring the Functioning of the Ukrainian Language as the State Language” were identified during a state inspection carried out by the Commissioner’s representative Ihor Spiridonov.

The basis for the inspection was a complaint from the father of one of the pupils — a veteran of the Russian-Ukrainian war. He reported violations of the children’s language rights during the educational process.

Specifically, during a lesson in 1st grade the teacher used an excerpt from a cartoon whose audio track was in Russian. During the review of the state inspection materials the teacher admitted the violation.

Ihor Spiridonov emphasized that ensuring instruction in Ukrainian is the responsibility of adults, not children.

“The use of the language of the aggressor state, particularly in education, is a gross and unacceptable violation of the law. First-grade pupils should not have to defend their language rights against adults. It is the duty of the educational institution, its administration, and teaching staff to ensure the educational process in the state language,” emphasized Ihor Spiridonov.

As a result of the inspection, an act and a protocol on an administrative offense were drawn up. Olena Ivanovska issued an order imposing a fine of 3,400 hryvnias on the teacher.

The teacher paid the fine the same day.

According to Article 21 of the language law, the educational process in educational institutions must be conducted in the state language. Instruction, educational work and official events must be held in Ukrainian, as well as everyday communication between teachers and pupils, announcements and all public communication of the institution.

Earlier we wrote:

• 1,501 appeals to the language ombudsman in half a year: Kyiv — 507 complaints, main violators — websites
• Russian language, plaques and books: the “Maski” theater in Odesa received four protocols at once
• In Korablevnyi, businesses were inspected for compliance with the language law: two violations were found
• Fines for ignoring the Ukrainian language could be increased tenfold: the language ombudswoman demands tougher changes
• Fines up to UAH 11,900: businesses in Korablevnyi were again checked for compliance with the language law