The Verkhovna Rada has adopted in the first reading a draft law on the use of English in Ukraine, which proposes to secure its status as one of the languages of international communication in the country. The presidential draft law No. 9432 was supported by 279 MPs.

The draft law proposes to enshrine the rule that English is one of the languages of international communication in Ukraine, and the state should promote its learning by citizens.

Candidates for the following positions will be required to know English: civil service category A, as well as category B and C services, the list of which is established by the Cabinet of Ministers; heads of local state administrations, their first deputies and deputies; military officers serving under contract, the list of which is established by the Cabinet of Ministers; middle and senior police officers of the National Police of Ukraine, positions of senior officers of other law enforcement agencies; prosecutors; tax inspectors.

The state will also have to facilitate the learning of English by citizens, in particular, by providing language teaching in schools and kindergartens.

The draft law also includes a clause stating that all announcements, notices, and inscriptions in all types of transport, train stations, and airports should be duplicated in English.

At the same time, the parliamentary committee on humanitarian and information policy had previously removed all norms related to cinema and television when preparing the document for parliamentary consideration. 

Earlier, this draft law caused a scandal because of the norm of showing English-language films in cinemas in the original language with Ukrainian subtitles. Dubbing studios claimed that this would kill their industry.