Ukraine: Fighting Russia, Fighting Russian

Odessa remains a city defined by its Russian-speaking heritage, yet it now faces a profound internal struggle to reconcile this history with a burgeoning Ukrainian national identity during Russia’s ongoing invasion. While the government implements strict decolonization policies to mandate Ukrainian in public spaces, many residents—including soldiers on the front lines—view Russian as an intimate, non-political language. Proponents of the language laws argue that removing Russian is vital to neutralizing Russian soft power and securing Ukraine’s existence, whereas critics warn that such measures alienate the population and play into Kremlin propaganda. This tension highlights a deeper existential crisis, as the city navigates the trauma of war, the necessity of national unity, and the desire to preserve a diverse, cosmopolitan culture that has historically defined Odessa’s unique spirit.