There are many controversial points in modern Russian. Among them is the question of how to write correctly: “in Ukraine” or “in Ukraine”. In connection with the conflict between Ukraine and the Russian Federation that began in 2014, the politicians of both countries are actively speculating on this. However, if we abstract from all this and focus on linguistics, what is the correct preposition to use? Let's find out.
Does grammar depend on politics?
No matter how much linguists beat their chests, arguing that the rules of the language are independent of the political situation, it is worth recognizing that this is not so.
The point is that only a dead language is stable. Live speech is constantly changing, adapting to new cultural, technological and political realities. After all, language is, first of all, a communication tool. This means that it should be as comfortable as possible for this purpose and evolve along with the society using it, otherwisewill die.
In this regard, every controversial linguistic issue must be considered in relation to the situation that led to its appearance.
What prepositions did ancient chroniclers use
Before paying attention to the question: “How is the word “in Ukraine” or “in Ukraine” spelled correctly?”, It is worth briefly recalling the history of this country.
So, after the collapse of Kievan Rus, its lands were divided among themselves by neighboring principalities. It is noteworthy that the head of each of them sought to emphasize that he was the heir to this state, adding the prefix "All Russia" to his title.
Over time, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, the Grand Duchy of Moscow and the Kingdom of Poland became the most powerful in this region. They actively fought among themselves for the free territory, which became a kind of buffer zone between them and the states of nomadic peoples.
Meanwhile, these lands (belonging to the territory of modern Ukraine) were inhabited by people with their own culture and language, who managed to preserve all this.
Due to constant wars, the borders were constantly changing. The surrounding countries began to call the disputed lands - "Outskirts", and the preposition "on" began to be applied to them. The first examples of such spelling are already found in the Galicia-Volyn and Lvov annals.
During the period of attempts by Bogdan Khmelnitsky to form an independent state, in official documents in relation to Ukraine, hecontinued the tradition of the ancestors, using the preposition "on".
During the Russian Empire
After Khmelnitsky signed an agreement on the accession of the country subject to him to the Muscovite kingdom in 1654, Ukraine remained a part of this state and its heirs (the Russian Empire, the USSR) for several centuries. How was the preposition used then?
After the Moscow kingdom turned into an empire, the official term "Little Russia" began to be mentioned in relation to the Cossack state. At the same time, the word "Ukraine" continued to be actively used in speech. In the same period, the tradition of writing “to Ukraine” appeared, which successfully coexisted with the option “to Ukraine.”
What did A. S. Pushkin think about the use of prepositions?
Everyone knows that the modern literary norm of the Russian language was based on the works of A. S. Pushkin. What did the great classic think about the question: “How to write correctly: “in Ukraine” or “in Ukraine”?”.
Strange as it may seem, the second option is quite common in his works. A similar spelling can be found in the poem "Poltava" and the novel in verse "Eugene Onegin".
Why did Alexander Sergeevich hold such an opinion? The answer is simple. Like many nobles of that period, Pushkin spoke French much better than his native language. And in it the preposition "on" in relation to the location was not used. Instead of thisalmost always used the option "in" (en). Therefore, getting used to thinking and speaking en Russie, en France from childhood, while writing a poem about Ukraine, Alexander Sergeevich used en Ukraine by analogy.
By the way, for the same reason in those years, many nobles, to the question: “How to say: “on” or “in Ukraine”?”, Answered that the second option is correct. Therefore, in the works of N. V. Gogol, L. N. Tolstoy and A. P. Chekhov, the variant with “v” is used.
What prepositions did T. G. Shevchenko and P. A. Kulish use?
The modern Ukrainian language norm is based on the works of Taras Shevchenko. What did he think about the question: “What is the right way to say: “on” or “in Ukraine”?”. The answer to this can be found in his wonderful poems.
And they have both options. So in the poem "Zapovit" the expression "On Ukraine dear" is used. At the same time, in his work “My thoughts, my thoughts” it is written: “Go to Ukraine, children! To our Ukraine.”
Where did Shevchenko get the tradition of writing “to Ukraine”? But his contemporary and close friend, Panteleimon Alexandrovich Kulish, who created the Ukrainian alphabet, wrote “in Ukraine” in his novel about the Cossacks “Black Rada”? And why did Kobzar use both prepositions?
The answer to this question, as in the case of Pushkin, is to be found in the education of both writers. So, Kulish not only studied the history of Ukraine, but was also a polyglot, fluent in almost all Slavic languages, andalso English, French, German, Spanish, Swedish, Hebrew and Latin. Such broad knowledge helped him to choose the preposition "on" not only from the point of view of grammar, but because of its frequent use in the annals.
But the great Kobzar could not boast of a special education. Since childhood, he knew the Ukrainian language, later the need forced him to learn Russian and Polish. Not having such deep knowledge of languages and their grammar as Kulish did, Shevchenko simply used the option that was more suitable for rhyme when writing poetry, without thinking about its correctness. How could he have known how much his works would mean to Ukrainians in future centuries?
What preposition was used in the UNR
After the revolution of 1917, during the three-year period of the existence of the UNR (1917-1920), in most official documents, the preposition “on” was used in relation to the name of the newly formed country.
Interestingly, when Ukraine became part of the USSR, and many representatives of the cultural and political elite were forced to emigrate, in most of their documents they wrote “in Ukraine” more often.
The Soviet way of resolving the issue
As for the official spelling of the USSR, it was customary to use the preposition "on". By the way, it is this argument that is used today by those who explain why “in Ukraine” and not “in Ukraine” is correct.
At the same time, similarthe variant was already an exception to the rules for the use of prepositions. So in relation to other countries of a non-island type, as well as the Soviet republics, the preposition "in" was used. For example: to Canada, to Kazakhstan.
"In Ukraine" or "in Ukraine": which is correct, according to the norms of modern Ukrainian spelling
After Ukraine gained independence in 1991, many areas were reformed, including grammar. It was decided to use the preposition "in" in relation to the newly formed country. And the spelling with "to" is perceived as obsolete.
In 1993, the government of Ukraine officially appealed to the leadership of the Russian Federation with a request to use the preposition "in" in relation to the name of their state. Since this was done with the writing of other independent countries.
Among the arguments was that when Ukraine was part of the USSR, in relation to it, as a region, it was acceptable to use the option “on”, just like “in the Caucasus”. However, having become a separate sovereign state with clearly defined borders, this country should have received the right to be written accordingly with "v".
How to correctly "in Ukraine" or "in Ukraine" according to the rules of the Russian language
In response to the appeal of the government of Ukraine, the preposition "in" began to be used in most official documents of the Russian Federation.
Also, according to the opinion of the candidate of philological sciences O. M. Vinogradov RAS), in the documentation relating to relations with the Ukrainian state, you need to write "in". At the same time, the variant with “to” continues to be the literary norm of the Russian language outside the official business style.
The same answer to the question: “How to write correctly: “on” or “in Ukraine”?” can be found in the official spelling.
It is important to note that Ukraine is the only independent non-island state in the world, in relation to which the preposition “on” and not “in” is used in Russian.
It should be borne in mind that this option today is just a tribute to tradition. Is it worth keeping it? A controversial issue, especially today, in the light of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, when Ukrainians perceive the use of the preposition "on" as an encroachment on the sovereignty of their state.
How to ride properly
Having figured out how to write “in” or “in Ukraine” correctly, it’s time to find out how to “travel” to this country (in terms of grammar).
So, in the Soviet tradition, the option with the preposition “on” was always relevant, since this country was part of the USSR. Those who continue to use this option today will go “to Ukraine.”
However, in official documentation concerning relations with this country, the preposition "in" should be used. For example: "The President of the United States went to Ukraine on an official visit." At the same time, when talking about this state as a territory, you need to put the pretext “on”: “The humanitarian mission of the Red Cross arrived on the territory of Ukraine.”
Thinking about how to travel "to" or "to Ukraine", you should always look at the context. If we are talking about the country before August 1991, when it became independent, you can safely use "on". After all, until that time the state did not exist, and in its place was the Ukrainian SSR - a republic, to which, as a part of the country, the preposition “on” was applied.
Come "from" or "from Ukraine": how to correctly
Having figured out how to write correctly: "in Ukraine" or "in Ukraine", it is worth paying attention to the use of other "controversial" prepositions. So, when it was said about a person who came from the territory of the Ukrainian SSR, according to Soviet spelling rules, the preposition “s” was always used.
But today, when the question of what is the correct word “on” or “in Ukraine” is increasingly appearing in linguistics, it is worth reconsidering the options for using the prepositions “from” and “from”.
So, if we talk and write about the modern Ukrainian state, then it is correct to use the preposition “from”, as for other non-island countries. For example: “My mother just returned from Ukraine.”
If we are talking about the periods of the Ukrainian SSR or Little Russia, then it is worth saying and writing "s". For example: “The great Soviet singer and actor Mark Bernes was from Ukraine.”
However, for those who do not want to deal with all these historical subtleties, it is worth remembering that the prepositions “on” and “from” are used in the same meaning, and, accordingly, “in” and “from”. It turns out that the one who lives “in Ukraine” comes “from Ukraine”. And the onewho "in Ukraine" - comes "from Ukraine".
Having learned how to correctly write “on” or “in Ukraine” (according to the rules of modern Russian and Ukrainian grammar), we can conclude that for almost 100 years this issue has been more political than linguistic in nature. Although the tradition of writing "in Ukraine" is a piece of history that is always important to remember, the current political situation requires that the preposition be changed. However, the same should be done in Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, which also use the preposition "on" in relation to Ukraine.
