RFI Podcast: Victor Learns Ukrainian at Inalco as Language of Resistance
In the sixth installment of RFI's podcast "Ma vie, ma langue," released on 18 September 2026, Victor discusses how the Russian invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022 inspired him to study Ukrainian, the language of his grandfather's heritage. His grandfather was one of nearly two million individuals forcibly taken by the Nazis during WWII to construct bunkers in Normandy. Victor discovered his grandfather's foreign background when his mother remarked, "Papy, il est étranger." The invasion sparked in him "une sorte de colère et d'impuissance," prompting him to learn Ukrainian at Inalco. He sees the language as a means of cultural resistance and participates in online efforts against Russian propaganda. The podcast features episodes on various languages and is accessible on several platforms.
Key facts
- RFI published episode 6 of the podcast "Ma vie, ma langue" on 18 September 2026.
- Victor's grandfather was taken from Ukraine by the Nazis during World War II, one of nearly two million compatriots deported.
- The grandfather was sent to build bunkers on the Normandy coast and hid in time to escape the D-Day landings.
- Russia's invasion of Ukraine began on 24 February 2022, prompting Victor to learn Ukrainian at Inalco.
- Victor committed to speaking Ukrainian fluently before the war ends.
- He participates in online activist groups that mock Russian propaganda and organize humanitarian fundraisers.
- Victor sings traditional Ukrainian songs with a friend from Inalco.
- The series includes ten episodes covering Kurdish, Wushi, Wolof, Japanese, Indonesian, Ukrainian, Pashto, Cambodian, Yoruba and Greek.
Entities
Artists
- Victor
Institutions
- RFI
- Inalco
- Apple Podcasts
- Deezer
- Spotify
- Amazon Music
- YouTube
Locations
- Ukraine
- Russia
- Kyiv
- Normandy
- France