The Ukrainian language is the voice of our land, the living memory of the people who have gone through centuries of trials. But how many times have enemies tried to silence us!
Over a hundred times in different eras, the Ukrainian word has been banned, persecuted, and destroyed. Back in the 17th century, the Moscow tsars ordered “not to print any books in the Little Russian dialect.” In 1720, Peter I banned the printing of books in Ukrainian, and in 1769, the Synod ordered the removal of Ukrainian primers and prayer books.
In the 19th century, bans came one after another. The Valuev Circular of 1863 cynically declared: “there was no separate Little Russian language, there is no and there cannot be.” 13 years later, the Ems Decree of 1876 finally banned the printing of Ukrainian books, plays, and even songs.
In the 20th century, the language was destroyed not only by bans, but also by executions. Ukrainian writers, linguists, teachers, the entire “Shooted by the Renaissance” intelligentsia were destroyed because they spoke and wrote in Ukrainian. The Soviet policy of Russification for decades tried to make Ukrainian a secondary, forgotten, “peasant” language.
But despite all the bans, we survived. The language was transmitted in whispers, songs, prayers, poems and letters. And today, when it sounds freely in schools, on stages, on the streets and in the hearts, it is a victory for our people!
But today the enemy again seeks to destroy our language! Therefore, each of us must remember that the Ukrainian language is not just words. It is our spirit, our dignity, our independence! 💙💛
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