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As part of a large-scale decommunization and de-russification initiative, 327 settlements have been renamed. The move is part of a nationwide strategy to rid the country of the legacy of the Soviet and russian past. Learn more about the updated names of settlements
The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine continues the active process of decommunization and de-russification by adopting a resolution to rename 327 settlements. This decision was part of a nationwide initiative to cleanse the names of cities and villages of russian and Soviet narratives that do not correspond to modern Ukrainian identity.
Details of the resolution
According to MP Yaroslav Zheleznyak, one of the authors of the legislative initiative, the resolution was adopted without discussion. However, as Zheleznyak noted, six settlements that were planned to be renamed earlier were removed from the final version of the document. The resolution was voted for by 281 MPs.
According to the decision, the renaming applies to settlements whose names are related to russian or Soviet figures, holidays and symbols. The main goal is to get rid of russified names and symbols that no longer correspond to the values of independent Ukraine.
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List of renamed settlements
In particular, the changes affected settlements whose names are associated with famous figures of russian culture and history, such as Pushkin, Gorky, Kutuzov, Suvorov and others. Some of them received new Ukrainian names that better reflect the national heritage.
Cities whose names reminded of Soviet holidays or symbols were also renamed. For example:
• Novomoskovsk (Dnipropetrovs'k region) was renamed Samar;
• Pershotravensk (Dnipropetrovska oblast) was renamed Shakhtarske;
• Pervomaisk (Luhansk region) - to Sokolohirsk;
• Molodohvardiysk (Luhansk region) - to Atamanivka;
• Sievierodonetsk (Luhansk region) - to Siverskodonetsk;
• Chervonohrad (Lviv region) - to Sheptytsky;
• Druzhba (Sumy region) - to Khutir-Mykhailivskyi;
• Krasnohrad (Kharkiv region) - to Berestyn;
• Pervomaiskyi (Kharkiv region) - to Zlatopil;
• Vatutino (Cherkasy region) - to Bahacheve.
Decommunization and de-russification remain important elements of Ukraine's state policy aimed at strengthening national identity and overcoming the Soviet past. Names of towns and villages that were associated with Soviet and russian culture are being replaced with Ukrainian ones, which helps to strengthen national memory and restore historical justice.
This initiative is also part of the overall process of Ukraine's European integration, as the new names symbolize a move away from the Soviet past and strengthening of Ukrainian sovereignty.
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