In Ukraine, Linguists Deploy Their Own War Tactics

It's not the first occupation that comes to mind when considering the ways Ukraine is fighting back against Russia: linguist. But a story at the Counteroffensive explains how one at Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv is doing just that. "I came to understand that first comes the Russian language, and then the boot of the Russian soldier, and the Russian tank follows," says Oleksandr Bondarenko. And how might a linguist help the war effort?

• "Oleksandr is also part of a group of academics who are training specialists for counter-propaganda purposes," writes Mariana Lastovyria. "He teaches his students how to use knowledge of the Russian language, literature, history, and culture to, for example, infiltrate society and spread disguised counter-propaganda content that will destabilize Russia from within."

The story provides the context for the initiative, noting that Bondarenko himself grew up in the Soviet Union, where everyone spoke Russian. When Ukraine became an independent nation upon the breakup of the USSR, the Ukrainians' own distinct language saw a resurgence. Today, while it's a point of honor for most Ukrainians to reject the Russian language, Bondarenko still teaches it, though for anti-Russian purposes. "For example, identifying someone's region of origin based on specific pronunciation can be critical during interrogations," he says. 'Or understanding how to communicate with different target audiences based on gender or age." (Read the full story.)