Decolonisation: Rethinking the Imperial Past in the Public Space of Mykolaiv

In the context of a full-scale war of Russia against Ukraine, the issue of renaming toponyms has become particularly important for our country. This is not only a legal act for many cities, but also a significant step towards rejecting the imperial heritage and asserting national identity. For Mykolaiv, it all started in July 2022, when the city council decided to rename Moskovska Street to Mariupolska Street. The process of researching and renaming streets began in the spring of 2023 with the support of the public sector and the volunteer community. Specifically, during the summer and autumn of 2023, the MY ART Platform in partnership with the Mykolaiv Development Agency, as part of the implementation of the project "Decolonisation: Rethinking the Imperial Past in the Public Space of Mykolaiv" with the support of the Heinrich Böll Foundation, Kyiv-Ukraine Office, conducted an analysis of the existing network of streets, lanes, avenues, parks, gardens and squares in the city of Mykolaiv for the presence of markers of Russian imperial and Soviet politics, as well as for compliance of toponyms with the standards of the Ukrainian language. This included conducting an electronic survey of the city's residents regarding the renaming of streets as part of the process of overcoming the consequences of Russification and totalitarianism, as well as a series of thematic informational and discussion meetings with the people of Mykolaiv.

During the desk research, 1,200 names of streets, lanes, avenues, parks, gardens and squares of the city were considered, in accordance with the current Register of Toponyms of Mykolaiv City, approved by the decision of the Mykolaiv City Council dated 03.09.2009 No. 36/27 "On the Approval of the Register of Toponyms of Mykolaiv City" (with amendments and additions). As a result of this stage, 259 toponyms were identified that were proposed for renaming. These proposals were transferred for processing to the newly created Toponymic Commission of the Mykolaiv City Council. Between September 2023 and January 2024, the commission analysed the proposals received as a result of the desk study and the online survey of Mykolaiv residents' opinions. Representatives of the commission proposed to rename 269 toponyms, of which 250 are street names. In addition to the names that are identified with the imperial past and actually glorify the aggressor, the list also included toponyms that required clarification of spelling in accordance with the modern Ukrainian spelling, as well as confirmed cases of duplication of names within the city area. For example, in different districts of Mykolaiv, there were as many as three streets named after Lesia Ukrainka. This happened as a result of the Soviet policy of consolidating regional centres by annexing the nearest settlements to the city.

The next stage after the Toponymic Commission's work was public discussions, which were held in the form of public consultations and lasted from 24 April to 24 June 2024 using various online and offline tools.

On 27 January 2024, under the current Law on the Condemnation and Prohibition of Propaganda of Russian Imperial Policy in Ukraine and Decolonisation, the Mykolaiv City Council lost the right to make decisions on renaming place names. Instead, these powers were given to the mayor of Mykolaiv. However, the decision was never made due to delays in the process. And on April 27, the mayor also lost these powers. Subsequently, these functions were transferred to the head of the regional military administration. In total, 190 toponyms within the city were submitted for consideration to the head of the regional military administration, of which 51 streets were not subject to renaming due to duplication or other reasons not provided for by law. For example, in the central and remote parts of the city, there are Shevchenko streets, so the priority name remained the one in the centre, and the street in the residential area was subject to renaming.

On July 26, 152 new toponyms in the city were approved. But on October 17, 2024, an additional order cancelled the renaming of Andreeva Street.

An important and promising topic for further research is the gender distribution of street names, in particular, in the city, 92 toponyms were renamed after individuals, but only 3 of them (which is 3.3% of the total) were named after women.

Toponyms distributed by functional aspects include various thematic groups: 6 names (4%) in honour of shipbuilding and maritime industry, 38 names (25%) in culture, 2 names (1.3%) in religion, 6 names (4%) in other professions, 22 names (14.5%) in historical and mythical themes, 10 names (6.6%) in geography, and 19 neutral names (12.5%).

Among the place names associated with the Russian Federation, 8 names were proposed for renaming, of which 7 were approved. For example, Volhohradska Street became Kimeriyska Street, Novorossiyska Street became Mriya Street, and Sybirska Street became Volynska Street.

As for the place names named after Russian military figures, war heroes, politicians and events, 18 place names were recommended for renaming, and all of them received new names. In particular, Admiral Makarov Street became Pavlo Skoropadskyi Street, Potemkinska Street became Marko Kropyvnytskyi Street.

Also, 38 of the 53 toponyms proposed for renaming, named after Soviet military figures, war heroes, politicians and events, were changed. For example, General Belov Street to Serhiy Gussidi Street, Zoya Kosmodemianska Street to Povstanska Street, Komkov Street became Danska Street, and Anna Divina Street became Zapovidna Street. Streets named after figures of the partisan movement during World War 2, such as Halyna Petrova, Vitya Khomenko, Shura Kober, Levanivtsi and Levanevsky, were not renamed.

Among the toponyms named after Russian cultural, educational and scientific figures, it was recommended to rename 31, of which 30 have already received new names. For example, Tolstoy Street now has the name of Maria Zankovetska, Chaykovskyi Street - of Mykola Sadovskyi, Stanislavskyi Street - of Serhiy Paradzhanov, and Chernyshevskyi Street - of Mykola Khvylovyi.

Also, among the toponyms named after Soviet figures of culture, education and science, it was proposed to change the names of 10 of them, of which 9 now have new names. For example, Michurin Street became Oleksiy Kvasha Street, Dunaievskyi Street became Myroslav Skoryk Street. The only exception was the village of Horkyi, which was not renamed.

Toponyms that promote communist ideology or Soviet myths have provoked an active discussion.  We are talking about the following names: Partyzanska Iskra (now Plastunska Street), Pershotravneva (now Yevhen Khrapka Street) or Pershotravnevyi Lane (now Vasyl Symonenko Street). In total, 19 of the 31 toponyms proposed for renaming were changed. And such streets as Druzhby, Partyzanska, Bereznevoho Povstannia, and Vysunskyi Lane were not renamed. 

However, perhaps the most discussions and heated debates were around Pushkinska Street, which was renamed to Arkas Street with enormous community support. Many were surprised that such a prominent figure as Mykola Arkas had not been previously glorified in Mykolaiv's toponyms (though considering the policy of destroying Ukrainian identity during the Soviet period, there are no questions), as Mykola Arkas (1853-1903) was a Ukrainian cultural and educational figure, a native of Mykolaiv, writer, composer, historian, founder and permanent head of "Prosvita" in Mykolaiv. This name is also associated with the entire Arkas family.

Special attention should also be paid to the process of renaming toponyms across the city's districts. The heart of Mykolaiv deserves particular focus. Here was concentrated perhaps the largest share of names that had no connection to Ukrainian history - both ancient and modern. Most of them reflected colonialism. Another portion had the names of Soviet pilots, intelligence officers, underground resistance members, and military commanders. That's why the centre received the most new toponyms - 27.

Long discussions also centred around Admiral Makarov Street, since he was born in Mykolaiv, built his career here, and made certain contributions to the city's development, but had a purely imperial view of it and did not consider himself Ukrainian. The street was renamed in honour of Ukraine's Hetman - Pavlo Skoropadskyi (1873-1945). During the 1917 revolution, Skoropadskyi's regiment was one of the first to be Ukrainianised. In October of that year, he was elected ataman of the Free Cossacks. In April 1918, at the All-Ukrainian Congress of Farmers, the formation of the Ukrainian State headed by Hetman Pavlo Skoropadskyi was proclaimed.  During his time, the Ukrainian Academy of Sciences was established, along with a network of gymnasiums, and a broad network of general cultural institutions and establishments (National Archive, Art Gallery, Historical Museum, Library, Ukrainian Theater of Drama and Opera, Ukrainian State Chapel, State Symphony Orchestra, etc.).

But toponyms in the city centre are named after not only historical figures, but also our prominent contemporaries. Thus, 8 Bereznya Street will have a new name in honour of  Mykolaiv poet, songwriter, participant of the Russian-Ukrainian war, co-founder of the veteran organisation ‘Res_Publica. Brothers in Arms’ Hlib Babich (1969-2022). He wrote more than 500 poems and songs, including seven for the Kozak System band.  Hlib was a platoon commander of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He died on 28 July 2022, along with three fellow soldiers near Izium in the Kharkiv region.

There was also a strong request from the community for "opening up world names," meaning the commemoration of prominent figures from other countries who were significant for Mykolaiv. A striking example is the former Mykola Gastello Street (in the Varvarivka district), which will have the name of Fridtjof Nansen (1861-1930), a Norwegian explorer, oceanographer, meteorologist, public figure, and 1922 Nobel Peace Prize laureate. He did much for Ukrainians - organising the Nansen Mission, which, including in Mykolaiv, saved children during the famine of 1921-1923. Large quantities of agricultural machinery and dietary food products were supplied to Ukraine. The Nansen Mission established many orphanages in Ukraine, all of which were named the same way, "Nansen Orphanage."

Also, the former street named after Soviet poet Mayakovskyi will be Karl Knorre Street (1801-1883). He directed the Mykolaiv Astronomical Observatory for 50 years (1820-1871). Knorre also taught astronomy at the Mykolaiv Navigation School and supervised hydrographic work in the Black and Azov Seas that was conducted during his time in Mykolaiv.  It's worth adding that Karl Knorre is the author of a number of special articles, and he compiled the 5th sheet of the famous star map published by the Berlin Academy of Sciences, which contributed to the discovery of many minor planets.

Lorenz Justus (1855-1925), whose name will now be given to the former Sydorchuk Street, although German by blood, dedicated over 30 years of his life to Mykolaiv and the Mykolaiv Commercial Port. He came to our city as a young engineer when the commercial port was just beginning to be developed, and later became its head. The construction of the first main port facilities took place during his time working at the port. Lorenz Justus also made significant contributions to Mykolaiv's development - he participated in the construction of the first public library (1894), the first water supply system (1895), the first horse-drawn tram line (1897), one branch of which even reached the port's docks, and he served as a deputy of the city council from 1913 to 1916.

The process of returning Ukrainian culture to public spaces is extremely important, and the renaming of toponyms is one of its main tools. In the city centre, the former Potemkinska Street will now bear the name of Marko Kropyvnytskyi (1840-1910), a Ukrainian writer, playwright, theatre director, and actor who fell in love with theatrical arts in his teenage years. His first step on this path was the staging of his drama "Mykyta Starostenko, or Misfortune Comes Before You Know It" by a theatre group in Bobrynets. It was in this group that he tried his hand at both acting and directing, and was successful. This was followed by work in Trambytskyi's private theatre in Yelysavethrad (now the city of Kropyvnytsky, named after Marko Lukych), the People's Theater of Counts Morkov and Chernyshov in Odesa, and in Koliupanov-Alexandrov's troupe in Kharkiv, as well as in Russian theatres. However, in 1882, the Theater of Coryphaeus was established in Yelysavethrad, where performances were exclusively in Ukrainian. After Mykhailo Starytskyi's troupe joined the Theater of Coryphaeus, a flourishing period began – actors toured both at national and international level, and Marko Kropyvnytskyi was known as nothing less than the "father of Ukrainian theatre." Marko Kropyvnytskyi died while working – during a tour. He is buried in Kharkiv.

The former Mendeleeva Street has been renamed to honour the Ukrainian director and actor, playwright and publicist, representative of the Executed Renaissance, Les Kurbas (1887-1937). Les Kurbas (real name Oleksandr-Zenon Kurbas) was the founder of first political and then philosophical theatre in Ukraine. His philosophical theatre "Berezil" in Kharkiv flourished particularly through collaboration with playwright Mykola Kulish, another representative of the Executed Renaissance. In October 1933, due to accusations of Ukrainian nationalism, Kurbas was dismissed from his position as theatre director, and in December he was arrested and imprisoned on charges of participating in counter-revolutionary terrorist activities. In April 1934, a court in Kharkiv sentenced Kurbas to 5 years imprisonment and sent him to the construction of the White Sea-Baltic Canal. In 1936, he was transferred to Solovki, and then to Anzer Island. Even in the camps, Kurbas managed to stage several performances. However, after the decision of the NKVD ‘troika’, which sentenced 1,825 people to death in one list, he was shot in November 1937 in the Sandarmokh tract (Karelia).  

The former Gagarin Street has been named after Rufin Sudkovsky (1850-1885), a talented marine artist who was born in Ochakiv in the Mykolaiv region and, unfortunately, lived only 35 years. He studied at a theological seminary but left it to study at the Academy of Arts. By 1871, he had already begun his independent career as an artist. Rufin Sudkovsky lived and worked in a small town in southern Ukraine, but his paintings participated in various exhibitions, won medals, and were bought by collectors. The Ochakiv Art Museum, Ukraine's only museum of marine painting opened in 1982, is named after Rufin Sudkovsky, with the artist's works forming the basis of its collection.

The former Tolstoy Street in Shyroka Balka will now bear the name of the most famous star of Ukrainian theatre of the late 19th-early 20th century, Maria Zankovetska (1854-1934), who dedicated over 40 years of her life to the stage. Her creative journey began in 1882 in the Ukrainian theatre troupe under Marko Kropyvnytskyi's leadership in former Yelysavethrad (now Kropyvnytskyi) with the role of Natalka in Ivan Kotliarevskyi's play "Natalka Poltavka." Zankovetska (a pseudonym the actress took after divorcing her husband, in memory of her happy childhood in her native village of Zanky) worked in the most popular and professional Ukrainian troupes – not only with Marko Kropyvnytskyi but also with Mykhailo Starytskyi, Mykola Sadovskyi, Panas Saksahanskyi, and Ivan Karpenko-Karyi, glorifying common people through her acting.

The commemoration of contemporaries is also important. The former Chyzhov Street in Ternivka will bear the name of Ukrainian artist and dissident Alla Horska, one of the brightest representatives of the Sixtiers movement, who was killed by the KGB in 1970.

Another example is Zebek Street and Lane (formerly Suvorov Street and Lane) are named after the Ukrainian marine painter, one of the most famous marine artists of the second half of the 20th century. 

Volodymyr Zebek (1931-2015) was born in Mykolaiv and was taken to Germany for forced labour by the Nazis in 1943. He returned to our city twice – after World War II and after studying at the Moscow Art and Pedagogical College and working in Moscow. From 1966, Zebek lived and worked on the Kinburn Spit. 

His works are preserved in private collections of art enthusiasts living in more than 40 countries worldwide. Volodymyr Zebek's house on the Kinburn Spit burned down in January 2015. The artist himself died on February 22, 2015.

Although now instead of Russian imperial and Soviet names, Mykolaiv's map reflects toponyms dedicated to Ukrainian state and political figures, artists of the Theater of Coryphaeus, representatives of the Executed Renaissance, other prominent figures of the Ukrainian cultural and artistic movement, as well as in memory of those killed in the Russian-Ukrainian war, many new names also commemorate prominent residents of the city and region, or recognize international partners of Ukraine and Mykolaiv for their support, but the struggle for restoring Ukrainian identity in street names still continues.

This publication was created within the project "Decolonisation of Mykolaiv: Analysis of New Toponymic Names in Public Space" which is supported by the Heinrich Böll Foundation, Kyiv-Ukraine Office. The thoughts, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this publication belong to its authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Heinrich Böll Foundation, Kyiv-Ukraine Office, and the German government.