Ukraine Updates Language Standards for References to Russia and Moscow in Informal Texts

The Ukrainian National Commission for State Language Standards has announced a notable shift in how unofficial documents may treat references to Russia and Moscow. In a move described as aligning with evolving linguistic conventions, capitalization of the terms Russia and Moscow will no longer be treated as an error in those informal writeups. The decision comes after a series of conversations and formal inputs from Ukrainian officials and linguistic experts, signaling a broader stance on language usage in official and unofficial contexts alike. Policy has noted this change as a response to feedback from the government and respected language institutions in Ukraine, including the Institute of Ukrainian Language and the Institute of Linguistics both bearing the name Potebnya from the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. This collaboration illustrates how linguistic policy can adapt to practical uses while still reflecting the country’s standards for Ukrainian language and national discourse. The shift is presented as a measured accommodation of contemporary writing practices, rather than a wholesale rewrite of historical or geopolitical terminology.