Another stage of renaming of toponyms has been completed in the Chuhuiv community. Horishnogo Street was renamed Bashkyrivka, Leonova Street was renamed Teatralna, and Pushkinsky Lane in Kochetok was renamed P. Sahaidachnogo Lane.
Why is the process being continued now?
The main stage of decolonization of toponyms took place in 2023. However, in August 2025, the President of Ukraine signed Law No. 4579-IX "On the Principles of the State Policy of the National Memory of the Ukrainian People." This document significantly tightened the requirements for the names of streets, squares, and alleys that are associated with the Russian imperial or Soviet past.
In addition, the city council received numerous requests from citizens demanding to rename certain streets. To avoid chaotic decisions and subjective approaches, the Chuhuiv city council turned to the Ukrainian Institute of National Remembrance for official clarifications.
According to the results of the review, out of 18 "disputed" names, most (including Ulanskaya, Kalmytskaya, and others) were defended. However, the streets of Horishny (a high-ranking NKVD official) and Leonov (a member of the governing bodies of the United Russia party) were subject to mandatory renaming.
How did the renaming happen?
The process was as open and transparent as possible:
- A commission has been created to rename toponyms with the participation of historians, local historians, elders, and the public.
- For two weeks, suggestions from residents for new names were collected.
- All collected options were put to a public vote.
- Voting took place both online and offline, with a separate day organized for residents of Klugino-Bashkyrivka.
- The decision was made based on the results of the community's residents' vote.
How much did it cost the community?
The renaming did not require significant budget funds. The expenses were limited only to printing ballots.
Residents of renamed streets do not need to reissue documents. The new name will be automatically entered into all state registers and will only change with subsequent real estate transactions.
We understand that during a war there are many pressing issues. However, the Law is the Law. It is better for the Chugui residents themselves to make decisions about the names of our streets, and not the regional authorities.