"The shutdown of Ukrainian TV channels and radio stations, the shelling of Ukrainian television towers, the abduction and murder of journalists were among the first steps of the occupation administrations. The enemy's goal is to launch his own propaganda television. In particular, on February 26, the mayor of Melitopol said that local authorities had lost control over office buildings and on March 7 the occupiers installed their equipment on the TV tower and began broadcasting Russian TV channels. The same thing happened in Berdyansk, Energodar, Nova Kakhovka, Tavriya, Kherson, Kakhovka, and Dniprorudny. In addition, on April 19 Kherson launched a broadcast of TV channels of the ORDLO terrorist occupation administrations. Such crimes are the genocide of the Ukrainian people, the organizers and perpetrators of which will be punished, "Taras Kremin said.

According to the Commissioner, the Ukrainian language, as the main factor of national consolidation, is an integral element of Ukrainian statehood. It’s stated, in particular, in the historic decision of the Constitutional Court of July 14, 2021: “the threat to the Ukrainian language is equivalent to the threat to national security because the language is the code of the nation. Without the full functioning of the Ukrainian language in all spheres of public life, the Ukrainian nation is threatened with the loss of the status of the titular nation which is tantamount to the disappearance of Ukrainian statehood from the political map of the world”.

"So banning the Ukrainian language in the occupied territories is an attempt to dismantle Ukrainian statehood. Therefore, our tasks include fighting such manifestations of linguocide, resuming broadcasting of Ukrainian media in the temporarily occupied territories, fixing crimes and resolutely fighting against occupiers and collaborators," Taras Kremin said.

The Commissioner urges citizens to report harassment on the grounds of language and any harassment of the Ukrainian language in the occupied territories. 

"All crimes of the occupiers and crimes related to linguocide, in particular, must be properly recorded. Modern russia continues its colonial policy by imposing its language, education and media on us. The launch of russian TV channels in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine and the shutdown of Ukrainian TV and radio companies violate the rights of Ukrainian citizens to receive information in the state language, in particular. I believe in our Armed Forces, the liberation of Ukraine and punishment of criminals! ”Taras Kremin emphasized.