On July 16, 2022, parts 2 and 6 of Article 27 of the Law of Ukraine “On Ensuring the Functioning of Ukrainian as the State Language”, which regulate the use of the state language on the Internet and the language of computer program interfaces installed on goods, come into force.

    • It means, in particular, that from July 16, 2022:

    • any product on which a computer program is installed - from a car to a washing machine or an electric coffee maker - must be "localized" for sale in Ukraine. The product must have a Ukrainian-language interface, regardless of whether this interface uses an electronic screen or has the appearance of a control panel with ordinary buttons;

    • all Internet resources (websites, pages on social networks, YouTube, Viber, Telegram channels, mobile applications, etc.), that are used as online representations of business entities registered in Ukraine, including informational Internet resources, must have the main version in Ukrainian, which should be downloaded for users in Ukraine by default.

The Ukrainian-language version of the online representation of a foreign business entity that sells products in Ukraine may have a smaller scope of information than the main version, but it should be sufficient for a user from Ukraine in order to fully understand the purpose of the activity of this entity.

Also, from July 16, 2022, the State Language Protection Commissioner will be able to impose fines on officials of state authorities and local governments, managers, and employees of enterprises, institutions, and organizations of all forms of ownership, and other natural persons who violate the Law.

From UAH 3,400 to UAH 8,500 - the amount of the fine if the violation is committed for the first time. A fine from UAH 8,500 to UAH 11,900 will be imposed for further violations.