Ukraine has no Russian minority, there are citizens who speak Russian - deputy PM

Stefanishyna said this during a press conference on the results of the European Commission's report on Ukraine's progress within the Enlargement Package, UNIAN reports.

The official was asked whether the Russian language in Ukraine needs protection.

"There is no Russian minority in Ukraine, it does not exist. There is not a single... legally formalized community that identifies itself as a Russian minority. There are Ukrainian citizens who speak Russian. I am a resident of Odesa: I speak Russian if I want to, and I don't speak Russian if I don't want to. I don't need either Moscow or the Venice Commission to do this," Stefanishyna said.

She emphasized that there is no question of protecting Russian in Ukraine.

"And I am very glad that the European Commission is also aware of its sensitivity," the deputy prime minister said.

• Recently, former Svoboda MP and teacher Iryna Farion said that she could not consider Russian-speaking military personnel Ukrainians. She called them "Muscovite bulls who disgrace the Armed Forces of Ukraine".
• The public reacted to the former MP's scandalous words. In particular, students of Lviv Polytechnic, where Farion teaches, asked law enforcement to check her.
• Later, the former MP said that the fight in the rear is more important than the fight at the front.