Fines for Violating Ukraine’s Language Law Could Increase: 95 Penalties Issued in 2025.

Current Penalties for Language Law Violations

According to TSN.ua: Ukraine’s Language Ombudsman, Olena Ivanovska, argues that the existing fines for breaching the language law are too low to be effective. She is pushing for higher penalties, stating the current system fails to deter violations. In 2025, authorities issued 95 fines for language law infractions—a 26% rise compared to 2024. The total value of these penalties reached nearly 369,000 hryvnias.

Ivanovska, who has served as the state language protection commissioner since July 2025, stressed the urgency of raising the fines.

'We believe that if the current fines are not working as a preventive measure, then we need to increase them,' she said.

This highlights the need for amendments to the legislation governing the protection of Ukraine’s official language.

Breakdown of Language Law Fines in 2025

The specific fines issued in 2025 are as follows:

• 15 fines of 1,700 hryvnias each,
• 64 fines of 3,400 hryvnias each,
• 4 fines of 5,100 hryvnias each,
• 11 fines of 8,500 hryvnias each,
• 1 fine of 11,900 hryvnias.

These figures underscore a growing number of offenses in this area and the importance of implementing stronger measures. Ivanovska believes that raising fines could serve as an effective tool to improve compliance with Ukraine’s language regulations.

The proposed increase in penalties reflects the government’s effort to boost public awareness of language norms. Tougher financial sanctions may encourage greater adherence to the state language in various sectors of daily life, thereby strengthening the country’s language policy. It will also be important to monitor the government’s next steps in enacting legislative changes and their practical outcomes.