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Language reflects collective identity and actively shapes memory and policy. In wartime, linguistic transformation extends beyond politics and society, becoming deeply personal – driven by emotions like language shame and pride. As Ukrainians navigate war, their linguistic choices – rejecting Russian and reinforcing Ukrainian – serve as acts of resistance, national solidarity, and evolving identity. This study examines war-induced changes in language behavior at both individual and policy levels. Based on qualitative interviews with Ukrainians who have consciously altered their linguistic practices, along with an analysis of government documents and public discourse, the research explores three key processes: (1) State language policy as a tool of resilience and resistance – How Ukraine’s policies promote linguistic decolonization and national unity. (2) Linguistic attitudes and emotional shifts – How war shapes individuals’ relationship with language, reinforcing language shame (the perception of Russian as a colonial remnant) and language pride (the adoption of Ukrainian as an expression of agency and national solidarity). (3) The reconstruction of linguistic memory and identity – How language choice influences personal and collective narratives, shaping post-war Ukraine’s linguistic landscape. By situating Ukraine’s linguistic transformation within language politics in conflict and post-colonial societies, this study highlights how language use challenges conflicted discourses and redefines national identity. The findings contribute to sociolinguistics, memory studies, and language policy, offering insights for scholars, policymakers, and educators studying language shifts in geopolitical upheaval.