Key facts
- The Radio Dictation of National Unity is held annually on Oct. 27.
- The event aims to celebrate the Ukrainian language and foster national unity.
- Ukrainian Radio has organized the dictation since 2000.
- Author Artur Dron wrote this year's dictation text.
- The dictation has continued for five years despite the full-scale war.
Hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians, including those in diaspora communities and service members on the front lines, are expected to participate in the annual Radio Dictation of National Unity on Oct. 27. The event, organized by Ukrainian Radio since 2000, celebrates the Day of Ukrainian Writing and Language by having participants transcribe a live broadcast text. This year's text was written by Ukrainian author and war veteran Artur Dron, who described the task as daunting but meaningful.
The dictation serves as a cultural anchor during wartime, particularly as Russia intensifies its attacks and has historically suppressed the Ukrainian language. The tradition has gained traction since the 2014 EuroMaidan Revolution and Russia's 2022 invasion, with speaking Ukrainian now a powerful expression of national identity.
Despite its unifying purpose, the dictation has also sparked controversy. Volunteer Dasha Astafieva faced criticism for her role in reading the dictation, while actress Nataliia Sumska was criticized in 2025 for her pace. In 2024, Oksana Zabuzhko's text was so difficult that only one participant completed it without errors. Organizers acknowledge the debates but emphasize the event's enduring appeal in bringing Ukrainians together through their language.