A formal academy marking Russian Language Day was held on 5 June 2026 at the Student Cultural Center of the University of Banja Luka, organized by the Center for Russian Studies of the Faculty of Philology at the University of Banja Luka and the Russian Cultural Center “Ruski mir”.

Speaking about the importance of the Russian language and its role in the modern world, Yuriy Pichugin, Head of the Russian Federation Embassy Office in Banja Luka, emphasized that, according to research conducted by the Pushkin Institute, Russian ranks as the fourth most popular language in the world.

Galina-Marija Mićić, Head of the Center for Russian Studies at the Faculty of Philology of the University of Banja Luka, noted that the academy has been organized for six consecutive years and is dedicated to Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin, whose birthday, celebrated on 6 June, is observed as Russian Language Day.

As part of the program, awards were presented to the most successful participants of the competitions Russia Through My Lens and Russia in My Eye, while certificates of appreciation were also awarded to distinguished individuals and institutions. Among the recipients was the Student Cultural Center of the University of Banja Luka, which received a certificate of appreciation for its contribution to the organization and implementation of the program. The award on behalf of the institution was accepted by its Director, Mladen Banjac.

The ceremonial program featured students of the Academy of Arts of the University of Banja Luka, members of the Association for the Preservation of Tradition from Prijedor, and representatives of the Russian Cultural Center “Ruski mir”.

Russian Language Day is observed on 6 June, the birthday of the great Russian poet Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin. In 2010, the United Nations proclaimed this date as Russian Language Day, as one of the organization's official languages.

(Agencies/UNIBL)