Thread by @linafromcrimea_

When I was 10, I decided to switch to the Ukrainian language in daily life. This decision was bold for a child in mostly russian-speaking Crimea, but I really enjoyed speaking Ukrainian in school lessons. I thought that since we are citizens of Ukraine, it was the right decision.

Inspired by this decision, I went to the shop near the school after classes and asked for an ice cream in Ukrainian. The shopkeeper reacted negatively to the sound of the Ukrainian language, she rudely asked me "Is something wrong with your head?"

The first interaction in Ukrainian with a stranger — and all I got were rudeness and disdainful attitude. I didn't understand this reaction; it's the state language, we have a right to speak in it. If we learn Ukrainian language in school, why do people react like this to it?

Since then, I haven't spoken much Ukrainian in Crimea outside of school and special Ukraine-related events. I felt bad about it — I loved the language; it sounded much more beautiful to me than russian, which for some reason was considered "proper" to speak.

And that's why I will laugh in the face of anyone who claims that russian language was oppressed in Crimea and needed protection in 2014. It's not true. russian language was everywhere, it surrounded us from childhood. Living in Crimea without speaking russian was impossible.

The languages that were oppressed in Crimea were Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar. While Ukrainian was at least somehow present in the information space because it was the state language, the situation with Crimean Tatar was tens of times worse.

Nowadays in Crimea, using the Ukrainian language can draw the attention of the occupation police. I'm sure you've heard about the wedding where Ukrainian songs were played. Everyone involved was punished — they received fines or other administrative penalties.

And those who use the Crimean Tatar language are automatically seen as enemies and terrorists in the eyes of the occupiers. It doesn't matter if you're an activist, journalist, or just a shoemaker; if you identify as a Crimean Tatar, you're in danger and a target for russians.

The goal of the russians is a russian-speaking Crimea with a population that has a russian identity. They have been pursuing this policy since 1783 and will not stop until Crimea is deoccupied and all russians involved in crimes are convicted in an international court.