How Latvians fell in love with Ukrainian: the story of two enthusiasts

The path to the Ukrainian language

Two Latvians, Oskars Peipiņš and Sandis Straujais, have made Ukrainian a part of their everyday lives. Peipiņš, a guitar teacher, speaks Ukrainian so fluently that he has repeatedly been mistaken for a native speaker – even to the point of having his documents checked. Straujais, a music store manager, organizes charity concerts in support of Ukraine and maintains close friendships with people in Kyiv and Kharkiv.

Each with their own story

The two men came to the LSM studio to talk about how Ukrainian entered their lives. Each followed a different path, but both made the choice consciously and continue to develop their language skills. Peipiņš emphasizes that the language has become a bridge to Ukrainian culture and people, while Straujais notes that it helps him build deeper connections with Ukrainian friends and support them in difficult times.

What's next

Both enthusiasts have no plans to stop – they intend to further improve their Ukrainian and remain actively involved in supporting Ukraine. Their story shows that language can be not only a means of communication but also an expression of solidarity and friendship.