LINGUISTIC INTEGRATION OF UKRAINIAN REFUGEES IN LITHUANIA

The article explores the linguistic integration of Ukrainian refugees residing in Lithuania, focusing on their language practices in both family and professional settings.The research is based on the questionnaire of 100 respondents, originally from various parts of Ukraine, currently living in two largest cities of Lithuania: Vilnius and Kaunas.The findings reveal that the majority of the research participants are bilingual in Ukrainian and Russian, with many also fluent in foreign languages.Ukrainian and Russian are the predominant languages used in family communication.In communication with spouses/partners and with children English and Lithuanian are also present.In professional and academic contexts, Russian and English are the most commonly used languages, though many respondents also report using Lithuanian at work or studies.While Russian often functions as a lingua franca in communication with Lithuanians, a shift in language attitude is evident -many participants express emotional detachment from the Russian language and the desire to transition to the Ukrainian language as a result of the ongoing war.This shift reflects a growing desire to maintain Ukrainian as their heritage language.The paper also reviews literature on the refugees' integration in the host society and the role of language in this process, underscoring the importance of acquiring the host country language.The effective inclusion of refugees into host society is a complex and multifaceted process, influenced by numerous interrelated factors.Language training stands out as a key element among them.Proficiency in the host country's language is fundamental to successful social integration, as it enables refugees to communicate, access services and to fully integrate in a social life.The findings confirm this trend, with the majority of respondents reporting that they have learned or are currently learning Lithuanian.They recognize its value for social integration and for increasing their professional or academic prospects.