Key points
- 28% of complaints to the Language Ombudswoman relate to violations of language legislation online.
- As of 10 March 2026, the Secretariat has received 130 such complaints.
- The most common complaints concern the absence of Ukrainian-language versions of websites, Russian-language social media pages, and automatic loading of Russian-language content.
- Entrepreneurs selling goods or services online are required to use the Ukrainian language.
- Websites, social media pages, and mobile applications must have a Ukrainian-language version that opens by default for users in Ukraine.
28% of complaints to the Language Ombudswoman Olena Ivanovska this year are related to violations of language legislation online, the Secretariat of the Commissioner for the Protection of the State Language reported.
As of 10 March 2026, the office received 130 complaints concerning violations in the operation of websites and other online representations.
Citizens most often report:
- the absence or incorrect functioning of Ukrainian-language versions of websites;
- the use of Russian-language pages on social media;
- automatic loading of Russian-language content instead of Ukrainian.
The Secretariat reminded that the requirements for the use of the state language also apply to the online sphere.
According to Article 30 of the Law “On Ensuring the Functioning of the Ukrainian Language as the State Language,” the language of customer service in Ukraine is Ukrainian. This rule applies to entrepreneurs who sell goods or provide services online.
This includes bloggers, psychologists, designers, stylists, tarot readers, and other specialists registered as individual entrepreneurs.
Information about goods and services on social media or websites must be provided in Ukrainian.
Online representations of business entities must also have a Ukrainian-language version. This rule applies to websites, social media pages, and mobile applications.
The Ukrainian version should be the main version and open by default for users in Ukraine. Other language versions may exist, but they must not contain more information than the Ukrainian version.
Reports of violations of language legislation online can be submitted through the electronic form on the website of the Commissioner for the Protection of the State Language.
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