Ukrainian replaces Russian at home
The Ukrainian language shift war is now one of the most visible fronts of Russia’s invasion. In 2022, just over half of Ukrainians spoke Ukrainian at home; by August 2025, that share had surged to 68%, while daily use of Russian collapsed to around 30%, according to an Independence Day survey by Gradus Research. gradus.app+1 This is not the result of language quotas or top-down pressure. It is a bottom-up, voluntary change driven by missiles, occupation and the desire to distance everyday life from the aggressor state. Other polls, such as studies by Kyiv’s Rating Group and Ukrainian News, confirm the same direction of travel: more households now use only Ukrainian at home, and Russian continues to lose ground. The New Voice of Ukraine+1

War pressure reshapes optimism and unity
Despite constant attacks, Ukrainians show surprising resilience. The Gradus survey records a slight rise in personal optimism, from 61% to 64% believing in a better future. gradus.app This is not naïve cheerfulness; one in four respondents still sees no better future, and many remain unsure. Yet the trend leans toward hope rather than collapse. At the same time, 67% of respondents say a “common enemy” unites the country more than anything else, while fewer point to shared national identity as the main bond. gradus.app Unity today rests on resistance to Russian aggression, even as disagreements over politics, leadership and social inequality continue under the surface.

Thinking beyond victory
Ukrainians are also planning for life after the shooting stops. Many still prioritise strengthening defence, but slightly fewer do so than in previous years, hinting at growing confidence in the country’s long-term security. gradus.app+1 People now rank economic recovery, rebuilding cities, reintegrating veterans and restoring healthcare among their top concerns. These answers show a society already preparing for reconstruction, not only survival.

A cultural break Moscow didn’t expect
This linguistic turn fits a wider pattern documented by sociologists and language scholars: Ukrainians are cutting their dependence on Russian culture and media while elevating Ukrainian as a language of leadership, resilience and European belonging. zois-berlin.de+2dif.org.ua+2 Putin claimed he invaded to protect Russian speakers; in practice, his war has convinced millions to drop Russian in their homes, schools and public spaces. The 2025 Gradus data, read alongside other academic and polling research, suggests one of the fastest cultural transformations in modern Europe—an identity forged under fire, and a Ukraine that is both more Ukrainian and more outwardly European than at any point since independence.

Key sources used in this article include the Gradus Independence survey on language and expectations for the future, available via Gradus Research, gradus.app coverage of the language shift by Euromaidan Press, Euromaidan Press and complementary polling and analysis from Ukrainian News, NV and academic studies on wartime language practices. Українські Новини+2The New Voice of Ukraine+2