Article body
The North Azovian Greek community in Ukraine is facing challenges in preserving their language and culture due to the war. Local police officer Mykola Akhbash teaches Roumean, a derivative language of Medieval Greek, while historical villages fall under Russian occupation, threatening the survival of their language and identity.
Akhbash began translating Ukrainian poetry into Roumean as a way to preserve his culture amidst displacement. He recalls learning the language from his grandmother, who spoke it daily before being discouraged from using it in school. The community, numbering around 77,500 in the Donetsk region according to the 2001 census, has a rich cultural heritage, including traditional dishes and festivals that blend different traditions.
On December 3, 2025, the Ukrainian parliament added Roumean and Urum to the protected list under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. However, Olga Tsuprykova expresses concern that legislation alone is insufficient without active community efforts. The organization is working on standardizing dialects and publishing textbooks, while also hosting exhibits to promote North Azovian Greek culture.