The article analyzes the peculiarities of the language policy implementation performed by the Soviet authorities in Ukraine. One of the fiercest discussions on the theory of the ‘struggle of two cultures’, which arose in the beginning and was discussed during the 1920s and had an impact on the whole cultural process of this period. It was found that in the 1930s, those who wanted to gain access to the most relevant information had to use the Russian language. Those who adhered to the Ukrainian language not only doomed themselves to humiliation, but even risked being declared as a public enemy or ‘enemy of the people’ with all the ensuing consequences. By the end of the World War II, the state influence in the process of covering and teaching history intensified again, and changes in ideological formulations took place, which affected the position of the Ukrainian language. Due to the moderate de-Stalinization, there was some king of indulgence in the language sphere. However, in the late 1950s, the Soviet government continued the forced course of Russification, which resulted in a sharp restriction on the use of the Ukrainian language in economics, socio-political life, education, science and culture. Ukrainian scientists, teachers, writers, and public figures opposed the processes of Russification of the population of Ukraine. However, the authorities applied various measures to force the population to speak Russian. The circulation of Ukrainian-language periodicals, books, and textbooks decreased. The number of Ukrainian-language schools was declining. It was possible to study in Ukraine and not learn the Ukrainian language. The Russian language dominated theaters, cinemas, and television. The tangible predominance of the national language was observed only in radio broadcasts. It has been established that the authorities insidiously interfered in the development of the Ukrainian language, directing efforts to its artificial rapprochement with Russian (the so-called ‘merger’), i.e. ethnocultural assimilation. Aggressive Russification in the cities began with kindergarten. Many Ukrainians were forced to study in Russian schools, and then almost all entered higher education institutions with Russian as the language of instruction. Thus, Ukrainian citizens were raised to the stereotype of the inferiority of the Ukrainian language from early childhood. The entire education system laid the foundations for the large-scale denationalization of the younger generation

Ukraine, theory of ‘struggle of two cultures’, culture, language, language issue, Russian aggression, Russification