Interest in studying Russian lower since Ukraine invasion

Interest in studying the Russian language at secondary schools and language schools in Czechia has declined since the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Czech Television reported on Saturday, citing the heads of such institutions. Some schools did not start Russian classes with the new academic year.

Some language schools are no longer working with companies who previously paid for lessons for staff, given that the firms have ceased doing business with Russia because of the war.

One language school operator said interest had decreased when Russian invaded Crimea in 2014 but had now fallen to virtually zero.