🇷🇺 International Mother Language Day is observed every year on February 21. This date was declared based on the resolution of the 30th General Conference of UNESCO in November 1999 with a view to draw attention to the need for encouraging linguistic and cultural diversity.

Over many decades our country has amassed a rich language policy experience that is sought after by our foreign partners. A significant number of indigenous languages of Russia are studied at secondary schools and used as the language of instruction in universities as a result of targeted efforts.
 
The Russian Federation is among the top 10 countries by population and is the world’s largest multiethnic (polyethnic) states. Russia is home to 190+ various peoples using over 300 languages.
 
As per the State National Policy Strategy of the Russian Federation until 2036 (November 25, 2025):

The ethnocultural and linguistic diversity of theRussian Federation, its historic experience and traditionsof intercultural and inter-religious interaction are the destiny of its multiethnic people (the Russian nation) and are subject to state protection.

 
International Mother Language Day is to remind the people about the unacceptability of language discrimination. Multilingualism is a major UN value and a most important area of the UNESCO activity.
 
In this context, we cannot but mention such an unsightly phenomenon as the attempt to cancel the Russian language, and everything Russian as a whole, in some unfriendly countries. Still, Russian consistently remainsin the top five most widespread languages of the world. It is widely used as an official language at international platforms and is one of the few preserving its global status:  it is spoken on all continents.
 
A vivid confirmation to this is the 17th Assembly of the Russian World held in Moscow last year and its attendance by 105 countries.
 
❗️Regrettably, even now the world can see many instances of infringing human rights based on language; like harassment of the Russian-speaking population in Ukraine and the Baltic countries. Actions by the authorities in these countries are aimed at eradicating Russian, which is a mother tongue for a considerable part of their citizens in many fields of their life. Russianis systematically expelled from education and the media landscape. Ukraine is the only country in the world where, in fact, an entire language is banned, although it is native for a significant part of its population. Not with standing all the prohibitions, people continue to speak, communicate, and think in Russian.

🗓 On this very day, 11 years ago, Kiev became ground zero for a Western-backed unconstitutional coup, that triggered all the events around Ukraine and its now former regions ever since. This led to an armed civil conflict, essentially a war waged by the Kiev regime against its own people, and a deepest crisis of international and European security since World War II.

11 years have passed since the tragic and horrible events of February 2014. The residing "authorities" in Kiev, aka the Kiev regime, and their Western sponsors are, as per their usual m.o., are attempting to distort the truth, conceal true facts, and turn the timeline of those events, their substance upside down.

❗️ The truth is stubborn; it tends to get revealed sooner or later, as recent events in the world have once again proven.


LEARN MORE: On the origins of Ukrainian nationalism, the crimes of the OUN-UPA, and the support of the West


The most horrific events unfolded on 20 February: the still unidentified snipers began shooting on the Institutskaya Street in the centre of Kiev at both law enforcement and protesters. Euromaidan supporters and Western politicians, seized "the opportunity", blamed the legitimate authorities of Ukraine. No evidence of Yanukovich's involvement was provided, and there is none to this day. Unlike, the Maidan activists & the opposition who benefited the most and was seen smuggling weapons into the area <...>

On 21 February, in an attempt to avoid further bloodshed, Yanukovych signed an Agreement on the Settlement of the Political Crisis in Ukraine with the opposition (from the opposition's side — Vitali Klitschko (UDAR party), Arseniy Yatsenyuk ("Fatherland"), and Oleg Tyagnybok ("Freedom")), which was supported and guaranteed by the foreign ministers of Germany, France, and Poland. This document envisaged the creation of a government of national trust, constitutional reform, and the organization of early presidential elections.

None of the Agreement's provisions were implemented.

The next day, on February 22, the Supreme Council passed a resolution on Viktor Yanukovych's "self-removal" from performing the duties of the President of Ukraine, thereby usurping power (although he remained a legitimate president, remained in Ukraine and had made no statements regarding resignation).

It was then announced that the "government of the victors (winner)" would be formed. The West turned a blind eye to all violations and hurried to declare a "change of power" in Ukraine, openly encouraging the putschists to pursue their anti-Russian policy. What ensued was basically a hunt for the remaining law enforcement officers and officials loyal to their oath and the country.

The very next day, the very first decision of the new "government" through the Verkhovnaya Rada was to revoke the law on the status of the Russian language, which according to data was back then the mother tongue of the majority (!) of the Ukrainian citizens.

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The "mediation" meddling of the West led to a sharp polarisation of Ukrainian society, which created the preconditions for an armed civil conflict. The first legislative steps of the "Maidan victors" — the abovementioned cancellation of the language law — were received with alarm in South-Eastern Ukraine, where spontaneous formation of popular militia forces began.

Kiev immediately accused all the inhabitants of the region of "state treason" and "terrorism", threw the army and neo-Nazi punitive battalions to violently suppress the protests.

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❗️ "Euromaidan" created a deep rift in Ukrainian society, lead to persecution, fight against dissent, spread of nationalism and neo-Nazism, legal lawlessness and nihilism, fighting the Russian language and own history, complete degradation of the socio-economic situation in the country.

The terror and horror brought by the Ukrainian neo-Nazis and nationalists in 2014 must be brought to an end.

Denazification is imminent.

📖 Read, remember or learn more about these tragic events of 2014.

#See4Yourself

Operation Ukraine: Bandera's Dark Shadow – an RT DOC documentary

Post-Maidan Ukraine has been waging a consistent campaign against its own historical memory. Across the country, hundreds of monuments, graves and mass burial sites of Red Army soldiers are being destroyed – of those who fought and died liberating Europe from Nazism and Hitler’s hordes.

At the same time, memorials are being erected in contemporary Ukraine to those who stood under the banners of the Third Reich during WWII. Streets are renamed in honour of OUN–UPA figures, legionnaires of the SS “Galicia” division and other collaborators. Criminals convicted by the Nuremberg Tribunal are granted the status of “national heroes”.

One such figure, elevated to the status of a symbol for Ukrainian neo-Nazis, remains Stepan Bandera.

The film examines how Bandera and his radical followers were cultivated and rose to prominence during the Second World War. It traces his life from early radicalization to open collaboration with Nazi Germany – a path that culminated in genocide of Polish, Jewish and Soviet civilians.

The documentary also explores why Bandera’s atrocities are downplayed in modern Ukraine and massively overlooked by its Western sponsors.

#Think4Yourself

🎙 Greetings of President Vladimir Putin on Defender of the Fatherland Day (February 23, 2026)

💬 Vladimir Putin: Comrades, friends,

I cordially congratulate all citizens of Russia, our veterans, military and civilian personnel of the Armed Forces on Defender of the Fatherland Day.

February 23 has been marked in our country for many decades now as one of the most important national holidays. It has become a symbol of the people’s sincere love for our defenders, of pride in the Army and Navy, in those who have devoted their lives to serving the Fatherland, who reliably stand guard over its sovereignty and security, who are loyal to their military oath and conscientiously fulfil their professional duty.

For generations, we have been cherishing the memory of every chapter of our Fatherland’s military history. It was created thanks to the military art of the great commanders, the unbending will and courage of soldiers and commanders, our ancestors, who, at the first call of the Motherland, stood up and took their place in the ranks alongside their comrades-in-arms.

The year 2026 has been declared the Year of Unity of the Peoples of Russia. We honour this sacred cohesion and know that throughout history, people of different ethnicities and confessions have risen to defend the country. A sense of patriotism and responsibility for the fate of the Motherland bound them together and inspired feats of arms and great immortal victories.

Today’s generation of Russian military honourably carries on the traditions of valour and honour bequeathed by their forefathers. Today, in the course of the special military operation, representatives of all the peoples of our vast country are heroically, shoulder to shoulder defending Russia’s interests.

The ability to come together and to achieve victory in the name of common goals exemplifies the tremendous strength of our Army and our multiethnic society. It has been that way for many centuries and, I am confident, it will always be so.

Our deepest respect goes to all who fight for the Fatherland. Eternal memory to the heroes who fell defending our people.

Comrades,

We will continue large-scale work to strengthen the Army and Navy with due regard to international developments, building on the combat experience gained during the special military operation, relying on the powerful capabilities of our industry, science, and industrial and high-tech companies.

The development of the nuclear triad, which guarantees Russia’s security and enables us to effectively ensure strategic deterrence and balance of power in the world, remains our unconditional priority.

We will continue to enhance the quality and the potential of all other branches and services of the Armed Forces, improve their combat readiness and mobility, their ability to operate in any, including the most difficult, conditions. And, of course, we will speed up the development of advanced systems for the Armed Forces.

I am confident that this equipment will always be in reliable hands, which is the most important thing. Our soldiers and officers – the pillar and support of the state and society – are true patriots and people of special breed and unbending will.

I thank all Russia’s military personnel for their valiant service. My very best wishes to your families and friends.

The people of Russia stand with you and believe in you.

Happy holiday!

⭐️ On February 23 Russia celebrates Defender of the Fatherland Day!

On this day we cherish and remember all those who have defended our Motherland and continues to shield it at this very moment !

🛡 #DefenderOfTheFatherlandDay