Without Liahin, Pushkinska and marshals: what streets in the center of Mykolaiv will be renamed

Mykolaiv, Central Avenue. Photo from open sources

In Mykolaiv, the work of the toponymy commission has been completed — about 250 streets are being prepared for renaming.

Oleksandr Trigub, the head of the street renaming commission, announced this in an interview on the MART TV channel, NikVesti reports.

In the list of proposed 269 toponyms, more than 250 streets were recommended for renaming. There were also toponyms that required clarification in accordance with modern Ukrainian spelling, as well as cases of duplication of names within the urban community.

«We can say that today the work of the toponymy commission is almost complete. It remains only to make some clarifications and gather a quorum to approve the last list that has already been formed. From the very beginning, 269 toponyms were proposed, of which about 250 streets were proposed for renaming. This is not just a renaming. Approximately two-thirds are toponyms that needed clarification according to modern Ukrainian spelling. And a large part of toponyms are dubbings, when within the boundaries of the modern city of Mykolaiv, i.e. within the boundaries of the urban community, the same name was found twice, three times and even once four times,» Oleksandr Tryhub said.

Desembrists Street

Desembtrists Street, photo from open sources

Desembrists Street is not subject to renaming. The commission argues for this decision by the fact that the Decembrists were victims of the repression of the tsarist government and advocated progressive ideas, including constitutional monarchy and the liberation of the peasantry.

«Streets were not allowed to be renamed in honor of personalities who suffered as a result of repressions by the tsarist authorities, i.e. by the Russian Empire. The Decembrists suffered from the Russian Empire. They fought for a constitutional monarchy, for the liberation of the peasantry, that is, for positive ideas. And the Decembrists are not exclusively, let's say, a Russian phenomenon. Many Decembrists represented Ukraine. Therefore, the commission supported the idea of preserving the Decembrist Street, because no one popularized it during the Russian Empire. On the contrary, they suffered from the Russian Empire, said the chairman of the renaming commission.

Potemkinska Street, screenshot from Google Maps

The opposite decision was made regarding Potemkinska Street. Named in honor of Hryhorii Potemkin, this street will be renamed because of his exceptionally anti-Ukrainian actions, in particular the destruction of Zaporozhian Sich.

«Why was it decided to rename Potemkinska Street? Because, as we know, Hryhorii Potemkin was the executor of the monarch's will, following Catherine's order or someone else's order, he destroyed Zaporozhian Sich. This, so to speak, is his single greatest anti-Ukrainian crime. It was in connection with this that the decision was made to change the name,» explained Oleksandr Tryhub.

Falieievska Street

Residential building on Faleevska street, photo from open sources

Falieievska Street will remain unchanged, because Mykhailo Falieiev, a builder and public figure of Mykolaiv, had no known actions aimed at suppressing Ukrainianism.

«There were discussions about Falieiev, but we must not forget that he is the first citizen of Mykolaiv, he is the builder of Mykolaiv. He had nothing to do with military matters. This is a merchant family, and a merchant family of Russian-Ukrainian origin. Even, as they say, during the time of the empire, he was called nothing else than Mykhailo Falieiev. He lived most of his life in Kremenchuk, spoke Ukrainian. He did not have any thoughts, at least not known to historians, any actions aimed at suppressing Ukrainianism, as required by law. Especially since before his death he ordered the Ukrainian serfs to be set free. It seems to me that this is a worthy person,» noted the head of the commission.

Admiral Makarov Street

Admiral Makarov Street, photo from open sources

The decision to rename Admiral Makarov Street caused a wide-ranging discussion. Despite the fact that Admiral Stepan Makarov was born in Mykolaiv, the decision was made to rename the street due to associations with the cruiser that shelled Ukraine.

«There were different opinions. Of course, there was a discussion about Admiral Makarov, because we must not forget that he is a native of Mykolaiv. He was not only a military man, but also an inventor-designer. His views are completely unknown to us regarding Ukraine, Ukrainians, he was simply performing his task. Undoubtedly, he is a figure who did not persecute Ukrainians. And it was possible not to rename it. At least, there are no complaints about the monument from, for example, even the Institute of National Remembrance. But one of the members of the commission noted that the residents of Mykolaiv have a very strong association with Admiral Makarov's cruiser, which shelled Ukraine. Therefore, after thinking about it, it was decided to rename it. Although there were members of the commission who opposed it,» Oleksandr Tryhub commented.

Liahin street

The Cathedral Cathedral of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos is located on Liahin Street, photo from open sources

Liahin Street will be renamed in accordance with the law on decommunization, but taking into account the preservation of the historical name Rizdviana.

«Viktor Liaghin was a staff member of the NKVD, therefore, according to the law on decommunization, Lyagin street is subject to renaming. The majority of the commission voted to return this street to its historical name — Rizdviana. Why? Because it should be noted that the architectural monument of the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos has been preserved,» said the head of the commission.

Pushkinska Street

Pushkinska Street, photo from open sources

Pushkinska Street is also subject to renaming. Before Soviet times, it was called Bulvarna, but it is planned to rename it to Arkasivska.

«We all know what attitude has been formed towards Alexander Pushkin in recent years, but the name of this street was Bulvarna before Soviet times. It was a quiet, cozy street that started from the boulevard, and now it is a traffic artery. Therefore, now the name Boulevard would look completely illogical. That's why the street was named, if I'm not mistaken, Arkasivska,» noted Oleksandr Trygub.

Streets with the names of marshals and generals will be replaced by new ones

Marshal Vasylevskyi Street, screenshot from Google Maps

Marshals and Generals will lose their titles as part of the renaming, regardless of their origin.

«As for the marshals, the marshals, most of whom have no direct relation to the release of Nikolaev. It was decided that all marshals and generals, regardless of their origin, will be renamed,» he summarized.

The list with new street names will be submitted for public discussion, after which the decision will be submitted for consideration by the Mykolaiv session.

«What was worked out in the protocol will be entered in the table with the justification of the new street names. The commission has decided on its proposals, but there is a public that demands to keep some names. Those public proposals that do not conflict with the law on decolonization and decommunization must be submitted to public discussion in an electronic version. After that, the draft decision on the renaming of the streets will be submitted to the session of the Mykolaiv City Council for approval,» Oleksandr Tryhub noted.

Law on decolonization in Mykolaiv

In April 2023, the Mykolaiv City Council adopted a new regulation on renaming toponyms in order to get rid of all Russian names in the city.

Also, the deputy commission on legality approved a new version of the regulation on the activities of the commission on toponymy, which was engaged in street renaming.

In particular, Mayor Oleksandr Sienkevych reported that there was a commission on toponymy in the city, which was engaged in street renaming, but as of today, its composition needs to be updated.

However, in August it became known that the toponymic commission has not yet started working. Due to the withdrawal of one of the candidates, the deputies of the city council had to update the composition of the commission.

At the session on September 7, deputies of the Mykolaiv City Council approved the new composition of the toponymic commission. Major General Dmytro Marchenko was included in it, but with the note «by agreement».

The very name of Dmytro Marchenko became one of those in honor of which the people of Mykolaiv propose to rename the streets of the city. The offer was submitted by 32 respondents. However, the general himself opposed such an idea.

In October 2023, the toponymic commission published the first proposals for renaming streets as part of the decolonization process.