A new browser extension has been developed by Ukrainian creators to identify and replace Russian fonts on websites with alternatives designed by Ukrainians. The project team announced the launch of this tool, which operates in the background to scan fonts on web pages.
When the extension detects a Russian font, it highlights it in red and suggests a Ukrainian alternative, marked in green. The developers stated that this initiative was prompted by global platforms like Google Fonts and Canva that they believe inadvertently legitimize Russian fonts by presenting them as ‘universal Cyrillic.’
The team emphasized that for years, users have unconsciously utilized Russian fonts across various mediums, including social media, websites, books, magazines, and clothing, thereby shaping the visual landscape of daily life.
According to the developers, this widespread use leads institutions, designers, and businesses to unknowingly support Russian font creators through taxes. They expressed concern that the origins of these symbols have been overlooked, causing a neglect of the Ukrainian design industry.
Looking ahead, the team plans to expand the extension’s compatibility with additional tools and platforms, including Google Docs, Google Sheets, and AI applications like ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Figma.
The project, named ‘Shryftoryz,’ is a collaboration between the public organization ‘Ukraine in Color,’ which promotes and preserves Ukrainian culture, and the font platform Rentafont, which works with designers from Ukraine and around the world. The extension is available for download on the Chrome Web Store.
Ukrainian developers have introduced a browser extension aimed at replacing Russian fonts on websites with Ukrainian alternatives. This initiative seeks to raise awareness about the use of Russian fonts and promote local design.